INDIANAPOLIS — The Georgia football presence at the NFL combine in undeniable, with 10 Bulldogs partaking in the 2019 event leading up to the draft. Georgia players Elijah Holyfield and Lamont Gaillard took part in the podium interviews on Thursday and are expected to perform in their field drills on Friday. AJC-DawgNation reporters D. Orlando […]

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Georgia football presence at the NFL combine in undeniable, with 10 Bulldogs partaking in the 2019 event leading up to the draft.

Georgia players Elijah Holyfield and Lamont Gaillard took part in the podium interviews on Thursday and are expected to perform in their field drills on Friday.

AJC-DawgNation reporters D. Orlando Ledbetter and Mike Griffith broke down the Georgia football related news that came out of the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday.

Ledbetter, who covers the Atlanta Falcons for AJC.com, was the Pro Football Writers of America president in 2013-14, while Griffith was the 2007 Football Writers Association of American President.

Holyfield has opened eyes, Ledbetter said, explaining why the Bulldogs’ tailback could end up with the Falcons.

Griffith shared that Gaillard’s SEC stock doesn’t match his NFL draft stock, but that could change with an impressive workout on Friday.

Ledbetter and Griffith also discussed why Deandre Baker has the look of a first-round pick, from what NFL types think about the Thorpe Award winner, and what he proved at the college level.

Join Brandon Adams and Jeff Sentell for the DawgNation Gameday Insider event at Marlow’s Tavern in Tucker, GA on Tuesday night. Hear Adams and Sentell provide their inside scoop of the Georgia football season. They will also look ahead to the big game coming up against LSU on Oct. 13. Wear your Georgia gear and […]

ATHENS — Georgia receiver and return man Mecole Hardman and cornerback Deandre Baker were among the sharpest Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium, following Kirby Smart’s instruction to play up to a standard regardless of opponent. The No. 3-ranked Georgia football program improved to 3-0 with a decisive 49-7 win over Middle Tennessee (1-2) on Saturday in […]

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ATHENS — Georgia receiver and return man Mecole Hardman and cornerback Deandre Baker were among the sharpest Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium, following Kirby Smart’s instruction to play up to a standard regardless of opponent.

The No. 3-ranked Georgia football program improved to 3-0 with a decisive 49-7 win over Middle Tennessee (1-2) on Saturday in a game that was moved up to a noon start because of Hurricane Florence.

Hardman caught all four of his targets in the first half for 21 yards and a touchdown, and he scored again with a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Baker, meanwhile expertly picked off Blue Raiders all-time leading passer Brent Stockstill in the first quarter at the Georgia 25, returning it 26 yards to set up a touchdown the made it 14-0.

Here are some other performances that stood out:

STOCK UP

Elijah Holyfield broke a career-long 66-yard run in the first quarter, helping to set the pace for the Georgia run game. Holyfield had 100 yards on eight carries in the first half. That made Holyfield the first Bulldogs back to have 100 yards rushing since Sony Michel (181) and Nick Chubb (145) accomplished the feat in the Rose Bowl win over Oklahoma.

Rodrigo Blankenship has started the season with 19 consecutive touchbacks on his kickoffs, and he is 3-of-3 on his field goal attempts this season.

Tyler Simmons has become known for his prowess as a blocking receiver, but Simmons showed his speed with a 56-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep. It was his first career touchdown.

Jeremiah Holloman had three catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Holloman’s 65-yard reception from Jake Fromm was a thing of beauty. Fromm hit him in stride with a pass that traveled 55 yards through the air.

STOCK EVEN

Justin Fields has been an impressive talent since he stepped on the field, and he exhibited those skills against Middle Tennessee, going 6-of-8 passing for 71 yards and a touchdown. Fields continued to pull the ball down quickly when his first read wasn’t there in the first half, running almost as much (three times) as he attempted passes (four).

Freshman left tackle Cade Mays got the start in place of injured incumbent Andrew Thomas. Mays had a holding penalty on the second series of the game that wiped out an 18-yard run and put Georgia inside its own 10-yard line, and Fromm was sacked on the next play. The experience was valuable for Mays, but he continues to need work.

Riley Ridley has had a relatively quiet start to the season considering how much work he gets in practice, but on Saturday the talented receiver got into the end zone by hauling in a perfectly thrown 12-yard fade pass from Fromm.

STOCK DOWN

Jake Fromm was 10-of-12 passing line for 128 yards and three touchdowns wouldn’t seem to indicate a drop-off, but considering how high his level of play has been, it wasn’t going to take much.Fromm suffered two needless sacks after holding the ball too long, and it nearly cost Georgia points. Fromm was hit in the end zone and the ball came loose, but Bulldogs’ lineman Ben Cleveland fell on it after it rolled out to the 2-yard line. Fromm escaped pressure in the second quarter, only to get sacked on the same play.

ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said there’s plenty of competition still going on within the team for starting positions — and that’s a good thing. “I have my message set for the team today,” Smart said Monday. “It’s not anything about who we play, or any disrespect for Middle Tennessee, it’s totally about […]

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ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said there’s plenty of competition still going on within the team for starting positions — and that’s a good thing.

“I have my message set for the team today,” Smart said Monday. “It’s not anything about who we play, or any disrespect for Middle Tennessee, it’s totally about us and competition within practice.

“We have some really good competition going on where guys are battling for playing time, guys are battling for spots.”

The No. 3-ranked Bulldogs (2-0) play host to Middle Tennessee (1-1) at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday at Sanford Stadium.

Smart said left tackle Andrew Thomas (ankle sprain) would not practice on Monday, but he indicated he could be ready by Saturday.

Smart after Saturday’s 41-17 win at South Carolina there was plenty for the Bulldogs to work on.

“At the end of the day, we have to get better,” Smart said. “We made too many bonehead mistakes, so that when we play abetter team, we will struggle.”

Smart said Georgia was a little “loose” in the secondary, but the saving grace was how the Bulldogs slowed the Gamecocks run game and forced them to the air.

“Look, we didn’t play great in the secondary, we gave up some passes, gave up some things we can’t do,” Smart said. “But if we can control the line of scrimmage, I can promise you most teams would rather run the ball than have to throw it.”

Smart said Georgia would pit starting players against each other in practice to increase the improvement.

“The best way to measure that is not against a scout team player, but a good on good situation … and find out where guys are,” Smart said. “The only way you develop your team toward the end goal, which is to be as good as you can possibly be by the end of the season, is to improve during the season.

“We have enough depth to go against each other and continue to improve, and that’s the end goal for us.”

PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS: OFFENSE ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia football defensive back was crouched and ready to pounce, his eyes squared up with the tight end coming his direction, and then …. And then Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart — in a defensive back stance beside Otis Reese — pushed Reese in the direction of Isaac […]

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PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS: OFFENSE

ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia football defensive back was crouched and ready to pounce, his eyes squared up with the tight end coming his direction, and then ….

And then Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart —in a defensive back stance beside Otis Reese — pushed Reese in the direction of Isaac Nauta while providing coaching direction in loud and certain terms on a steamy Monday afternoon.

“We’re not preparing for Austin Peay, we’re not preparing for South Carolina, we’re not preparing for Auburn or anybody else on our schedule, we’re preparing for us right now,” Smart said last Friday.

“We’ve got to do a great job this camp of understanding the areas we’ve got to improve on, and being very demanding and making sure everybody understands the standard that was set last year with the practice habits and the effort and the energy. I really think our players are buying into that.”

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia football offensive coordinator Jim Chaney is about as seasoned and successful of an assistant coach as you will find, and his media sessions reflect that. Chaney is an informative and entertaining speaker, his enthusiasm for the game and the players is as unmistakable as his encyclopedic knowledge of football. RELATED: Georgia […]

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ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia football offensive coordinator Jim Chaney is about as seasoned and successful of an assistant coach as you will find, and his media sessions reflect that.

Chaney is an informative and entertaining speaker, his enthusiasm for the game and the players is as unmistakable as his encyclopedic knowledge of football.

Some coaches appear tired and reluctant to discuss their teams, but that’s not the case with Chaney.

Chaney clearly enjoys his job and the opportunity to share his thoughts on what looks to be another championship caliber Bulldogs’ offense.

Here are some key quotes from Chaney’s expert presentation:

Jim Chaney, Aug. 4, Butts-Mehre Building

• “We all know how polarizing the quarterback position can be. Everybody wants to know about that spot. In my particular role, I worry about everybody. And every good football player we have, you try to find ways to get them on the field and utilize them.”

• “I love [Justin Fields]; he’s a wonderful young man, comes from a great family. He’s a competing son-of-a-gun, and he’s also a hell of a good football player. The future is very bright for him. As far as what happens in the future, as far as playing time and all that, all that is going to take place in the next three to four weeks, and all that who plays and who doesn’t play, you know as well as I do, that gets down to Coach Smart’s decision. So I don’t get in to all that, I’m just very glad he’s here, a part of our program and competing for our starting position for our team.”

• “James [Coley] moving into quarterbacks [coaching role], it’s been awesome. He brings a good, vast amount of knowledge to that position. He knows what he’s doing there. It’s kind of a fresh breath for those guys to hear things from a different voice. He’s done a great job with them. For me going back to the tight ends spot, I’m very comfortable there also. So, those kids that I’ve got in the room, particularly the older guys, with Isaac [Nauta] and Charlie [Woerner] and Jackson [Harris], those kids have known me a long time. The transition has been pretty much seamless in my opinion. I think we’ve done a good job in that room. And Shane [Beamer] had done a good job before. It just kind of worked out that the staff just kind of switched around. It worked out fine. I’m very comfortable with where we’re at right now. I think it’s actually brought it a little energy to what we’re trying to do

• “We don’t have a vast amount of depth at that position right now, so when you start running quarterbacks, you’re putting him in harms way a little bit more, so you’ve got to be real conscious of that. I don’t know if you walk out and say, because Justin Fields can run, he is a running quarterback. I think Justin Fields is a fantastic quarterback. He happens to be able to run. So that’s a good thing. Designing a playbook directly because he can run, I think that would be disoriented of who we want to be as a football team. But it does give us some different things we can open in the playbook. It does open some pages to it.”

• “You don’t rule anything out [asked about two-quarterback system]. Like I said guys, everybody wants to know about that right now. And I don’t blame y’all for asking the question at all. But we’re so much in a mode of training camp right now, just trying to get every player a little bit better, and cohesively working within our unit, and utilizing our base offense, that the mindset of game planning and putting out two different offenses hasn’t – can’t even think about things like that. My mind is so far away from that right now. I just want him to be all he can be, and let us evaluate him, see what his skill set is, and utilize it to the best of our ability – overall, to help Georgia win football games. And if it ends up being that way, so be it, but that’s a long way in the future.”

• “[Jake Fromm] is more confident with the X’s and O’s. There’s no question about that. He’s got that year under him, and he had a fantastic year, and he’s playing good football for us, and he’s playing very confident. But Jake’s personality has always been Jake. Even last year, he was a freshman, he was still Jake. He’s an outgoing guy, he likes to talk to his teammates. He’s positive all the time. So a lot of his personality traits haven’t changed. A lot of it is his familiarity, and he played 900-some snaps of football last year. That’s hard to overlook. He’s a good football player.”

• “It’s not all Jim Chaney. Trust me on that. When we get in the run game, it’s Dell [McGee] and myself, and Sam [Pittman] a lot. When you get into the passing game, it’s Cortez [Hankton], and James, and it’s Jay and myself. We all collectively put it together, slap it up on the board, see where we’re at. If we’re heavy somewhere else, and someone has an opinion on somewhere else – anybody can bring up anything they want. I don’t care. I worked for a guy named Gene Murphy a hundred years ago – bless his soul, I lost him a few years ago. He told me, ‘Jim, if you ever have an opportunity to hire people, always try to hire people smarter than you.’ That’s always stuck with me. I’m fortunate on our staff; I’ve had a lot of good people who are a lot smarter than I am. I would be a damn fool not to listen to what they have to say.”

• “There’s a lot of talent there in that [running backs] room. Everybody tells me how good we’re going to be, but I still look for those two kids we had last year [Nick Chubb and Sony Michel] walking down the hall and they haven’t showed up yet, they’re gone. They’re history. The kids we have, we like. We think they’re going to be good football players but to go out on the field and perform they have yet to do that. We have to watch them do that, watch them go play. We are excited about it. We’re optimistic about it. The rubber hits the road in about a month when we go out on the field and play. We’ll find out where we are at that time. “

• “The receiving core in general is older, they’ve played a lot. We have Riley [Ridley], Mecole [Hardman], and Terry [Godwin] who have played a lot. Trey (Blount) played last year. Jeremiah (Holloman) played last year. The one thing about our receiving core you have to remember is- you think about Special Teams. Tyler Simmons, Riley [Ridley], and Jayson Stanley all played over 100 snaps last year on Special Teams- that’s a game and a quarter of nothing more than Special Teams. In places where I’ve been, wide receivers hadn’t played that much. That’s telling you a little bit about their character. They care about the team and they’re physical football players. You can’t play Special Teams and be any other way.”

ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia football receiving corps has been questioned in the offseason, and it will open fall drills on Friday without its most experienced target. Senior Terry Godwin has what Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart described as a “minor issue with his left knee” and will be held out of drills on Friday. RELATED: […]

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ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia football receiving corps has been questioned in the offseason, and it will open fall drills on Friday without its most experienced target.

Senior Terry Godwin has what Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart described as a “minor issue with his left knee” and will be held out of drills on Friday.

• “Jake (Fromm), he’s healing really well (and) he’ll have a splint out when he’s out there, but it’s just a precautionary splint,’ Smart said. “He’ll be able to do everything we need him to do.”

Smart turned his attention to sophomore linebacker Jaden Hunter next, a 6-foot-2, 228-pound player from Westlake High School.

• “Jaden Hunter has a little bit of a hamstring, so he’ll be a little limited,” Smart said. “You’ll see him out there. He’ll work, but he’s not going to be able to do everything 100 percent, and we hope to get him back soon and have him work with us.”

• Zamir White has been cleared for all activity but will wear a knee brace, Smart said.

Ojulari, from Marietta High School, suffered his ACL injury on Nov. 24.

• Freshman defensive back Divaad Wilson, who suffered a torn ACL in spring drills after enrolling early, “will work into practice as the season progresses,” Smart said. “He’s a really competitive guy and wants to jump out there and do everything he can.”

• Smart said sophomore defensive back Deangelo Gibbs “is fully cleared with his shoulder, so he’ll be able to do everything.”

ATHENS, Ga. —The defending SEC Champion Georgia football team will open the season No. 4 in the Coaches’ Poll, according to the preseason rankings released on Thursday. The Bulldogs finished last season No. 2 after a 26-23 overtime loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship Game last January. RELATED: Georgia football still to […]

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ATHENS, Ga. —The defending SEC Champion Georgia football team will open the season No. 4 in the Coaches’ Poll, according to the preseason rankings released on Thursday.

The Bulldogs finished last season No. 2 after a 26-23 overtime loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff Championship Game last January.

The No 4 ranking represents the highest in the Coaches’ Poll since the Bulldogs opened the 2008 campaign ranked No 1 en route to a 10-3 season and a No. 10 final ranking.

Last season’s Georgia football team opened the season No. 15 and only rose as high as No. 2 in the human polls (AP Top 25, Coaches’ Poll), despite spending two weeks at No 1 according to the College Football Playoff Committee.

Alabama was voted the No. 1 team in the preseason Coaches’ Poll, garnering the top vote from 61 of the 65 coaches.

The Crimson Tide is replacing its offense and defensive coordinators from a season ago and has a quarterback controversy on its hands, so the No. 1 vote shows how much respect other coaches have for Nick Saban.

The SEC media members largely agree, based on the fact that three-fourths of them picked Alabama to win the SEC Championship Game this season even though the Tide failed to appear in the contest last season.

Clemson is No 2 in the Coaches’ Poll, Ohio State is No. 3 followed by Georgia and No. 5 Oklahoma.

Other SEC teams in the poll

Auburn No. 10, Mississippi State No. 18 and LSU at No. 24.

South Carolina and Florida were tops among “others receiving votes” (Nos. 26 and 27). Texas A&M (No. 31), and Kentucky (No. 43) also received votes.

]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-top-25-coaches-poll/feed0Georgia football must determine ultimate role of second-and-26 in program historyhttps://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-uga-kirby-smart-championship
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-uga-kirby-smart-championship#respondThu, 02 Aug 2018 12:15:41 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=121672

ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia football dream season ended so suddenly, and in such unlikely fashion, it’s still hard to grasp. Second-and-26. Seven months later. “Everybody wants to talk about that …. ,” Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said, not blinking an eye when the back-breaking play was asked about at SEC Media Day in Atlanta. […]

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ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia football dream season ended so suddenly, and in such unlikely fashion, it’s still hard to grasp.

Second-and-26. Seven months later.

“Everybody wants to talk about that …. ,” Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said, not blinking an eye when the back-breaking play was asked about at SEC Media Day in Atlanta.

“It’s not like I have nightmares about it. I think we grow from it, the entire season was a learning experience.”

Indeed, many believe Georgia football has elevated to be on equal ground with the Crimson Tide.

Smith, cruelly enough a one-time Bulldogs’ commit during the Mark Richt Era, caught the 41-yard touchdown pass in stride and the Alabama celebration was on, a 26-23 victory etched in the history books.

Moving on

Smart said at the SEC Spring Meetings he would not allow the play to beat him twice, that there wasn’t time to dwell on it.

But second-and-26 will always be there, a part of Georgia football history.

For now, it’s a mysterious piece to a yet-to-be-determined puzzle.

Is that how close the Bulldogs will say they came to winning a national title during the Smart Era — however long it lasts?

Or will second-and-26 be known as the stepping stone that pushed the Georgia coaches and players to work that much harder, knowing just how close the program is to overtaking Alabama for national supremacy?

The Bulldogs players were asked about the play, over and over, during their SEC Media Day appearance.

Offseason motivation

“When the game ended I was hurt, everybody was hurt, we worked hard, and we came up a little short,” Ledbetter said. “But we took a week off and everyone was grinding, back in the office.

“We’re here, we aren’t going anywhere, we were here before. We’re just cleaning some things up in the office, in the shop, and we’re going to get this thing clicking on all cylinders.”

Senior defensive back J.R. Reed agreed, indicating that fans needn’t worry about how the Georgia football players are handling the historic defeat.

“I think it definitely hurts the fan more than it hurts us,” Reed said. “We know what happened and there’s nothing you can do about it, so you just have to go on. You can’t watch the same play over and over.

“I watched (the title game) as many times as I watch a regular game, so maybe two or three times. It’s nothing I dwell on, we did a lot of good things in that game, we can’t hang the game on one play. You learn from the good things, and you learn from the bad things.”

Nick Saban advice

Alabama coach Nick Saban saw his team go through similar heartbreak the season before, losing in the national title game to Clemson on a last-second play.

“We said last year, `Don’t waste the feeling,’ “ Saban said, revealing the Tide’s offseason motivation. “They sure didn’t, the way they played tonight.”

Indeed, Alabama showed greater resolve with the game on the line, overcoming a Georgia team that was the more accomplished of the two having captured the SEC regular-season championship.

Now it’s the Bulldogs turn to show they can respond in championship manner, one game at a time.

“Obviously nobody in this locker room every wants to feel the way they do right now ever again,” Georgia QB Jake Fromm told the Red and Black after the title game. “That’s plenty of motivation for going back to work and being back next year and definitely being on the top side.”

Smart, a former Georgia player, understands the pain better than anyone else. But the Bulldogs’ third-year head coach also understands that poise, as much as passion, is key to another championship run.

“I don’t think you look back on it as a horror story,” Smart concluded. “You just take it and you go.”

ATLANTA — Jeremy Pruitt’s first SEC Media Days experience will be one he’ll remember, for better and worse. The new Tennessee coach and former Georgia, Alabama and Florida State assistant was as polished as he has been in front of cameras since assuming the Vols’ head football job on Dec. 7, and he needed every […]

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ATLANTA — Jeremy Pruitt’s first SEC Media Days experience will be one he’ll remember, for better and worse.

The new Tennessee coach and former Georgia, Alabama and Florida State assistant was as polished as he has been in front of cameras since assuming the Vols’ head football job on Dec. 7, and he needed every bit of that poise.

Pruitt’s highlight was in the electronic media room when he had reporters rolling in laughter.

Asked about his relationship with Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart. Pruitt told the story about driving the wife of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart to the hospital when she was going through labor pains while the two were assistant coaches at Alabama in 2007.

Driving Mary Beth Smart to hospital

Earlier, Pruitt was asked about critical comments made by former Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray.

“When he was at Georgia, the way he acted, the way he treated Coach Richt I thought was poor,” Murray said of Pruitt via the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Blake Toppmeyer. “He wasn’t as respectful as I thought a defensive coordinator should be to a head coach.”

ATLANTA — In case anyone was wondering about the Georgia football mentality, in terms of potential for complacency, junior defensive back J.R. Reed provided some insight. “The ultimate goal is to win the natty, and the SEC Championship doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win the national championship,” Reed said Tuesday morning at the Omni […]

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ATLANTA — In case anyone was wondering about the Georgia football mentality, in terms of potential for complacency, junior defensive back J.R. Reed provided some insight.

“The ultimate goal is to win the natty, and the SEC Championship doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win the national championship,” Reed said Tuesday morning at the Omni Hotel, moments before attending SEC Football Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. “So that’s where we are right now.”

Georgia football fans, of course, can and will enjoy the memories from the historic march Coach Kirby Smart led the Bulldogs on in only his second season.

The win at Notre Dame, the SEC title victory over Auburn and come-from-behind victory over Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl all featured oil painting moments.

But the Georgia football locker room plans to stay on edge, knowing how dangerous an enemy complacency can become.

Smart doesn’t exactly tell his players what to say, but he has a pretty good idea who the leaders are, and which players will send the right message.

“(Reed) played really well for us last year and was not afraid to step up and say things that needed to be said last year,” Smart said. “We expect those same things from him. Here’s a communications major.”

Reed, who started all 15 games last season after sitting out the 2016 campaign following his transfer from Tulsa, does not take the responsibility lightly.

“That means the world to me Coach Smart believes in me like that,” Reed said. “Since I got here, Coach Smart has coached me very hard.”

And now it’s Reed’s turn to know when and how to be hard on his teammates and help hold the defense accountable.

“Other guys have to step up to the plate like those guys did last year,” Reed said, asked about the leadership void on defense, with only four starters returning.

ATLANTA — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart is ready to welcome Demetris Robertson home, but getting the Cal transfer on the field for the Bulldogs this season is another matter. “I’m excited about Demetris, I think he’s a really competitive kid that I’ve known since his ninth grade year, I recruited him a long time,” […]

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ATLANTA — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart is ready to welcome Demetris Robertson home, but getting the Cal transfer on the field for the Bulldogs this season is another matter.

“I’m excited about Demetris, I think he’s a really competitive kid that I’ve known since his ninth grade year, I recruited him a long time,” Smart said Tuesday at the Omni Hotel.

“I really believe when you recruit a kid, especially the time I spent (coaching) at Alabama, going to Savannah, getting to know him in the ninth and 10th grade, those things pay off, treating people the right way and having a good relationship with them.”

Coming Home

Robertson announced Saturday he would be returning to his home state of Georgia to play receiver for the SEC Champions. According to multiple reports, Robertson’s decision to return to the Peach State relates to a family illness.

Robertson was granted a medical redshirt last season after appearing in only two games, but he would need an NCAA waiver to be eligible to play this season.

“I don’t know much about the waiver, that’s out of my department, that will be in the NCAA’s hands,” Smart said. “That’s outside of my control, and it’s not something we’re really concerned with right now. We’re preparing with the guys that are going to be eligible to play and can play.”

Recruiting Stars

It was yet another big recruiting win for Smart, who landed the No. 1 signing class in 2018. Robertson had announced on June 21 his decision to transfer out of Cal, triggering immediate speculation that Georgia and Alabama would be in a head-to-head battle for his talents.

Robertson had 57 catches for 837 yards and seven touchdowns during his two seasons with Cal, but 50 of those catches and 767 yards came his freshman season.

Last season, Robertson had only seven catches for 70 yards and two runs for 40 yards in the first two games before undergoing surgery for a lower-body injury.

Many expected Roberston to choose Georgia coming out of Savannah Christian Prep in 2016, when he was a 5-star prep prospect ranked as the No. 1 receiver in the nation according to the 247Sports composite.

A U.S. Army All-American, Robertson was reportedly to choose between Georgia, Notre Dame and Alabama according to 247Sports.

ATLANTA — LSU coach Ed Orgeron did nothing to downplay the hype that’s building for the Georgia football road trip to the SEC’s version of Death Valley. “That night Tiger Stadium is going to be alive, it’s going to be loud,” Orgeron said, referencing the Oct. 13 game. “There will be a lot of tailgating. […]

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ATLANTA — LSU coach Ed Orgeron did nothing to downplay the hype that’s building for the Georgia football road trip to the SEC’s version of Death Valley.

“That night Tiger Stadium is going to be alive, it’s going to be loud,” Orgeron said, referencing the Oct. 13 game. “There will be a lot of tailgating. It should be a great college matchup in the SEC.”

History Lesson

It will be the Bulldogs first road game at LSU since Oct. 25, 2008. Georgia won that game against the defending national champions when Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and ran for another.

GREENSBORO, Ga. — Georgia football is “right there” with Alabama, according to College Football Hall of Fame coach Frank Beamer. The 71-year-old Virginia Tech coaching legend remains dialed in to the college football landscape, and he believes Kirby Smart has the Bulldogs on track to ultimately return to the national title game. “I was having […]

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GREENSBORO, Ga. — Georgia football is “right there” with Alabama, according to College Football Hall of Fame coach Frank Beamer.

The 71-year-old Virginia Tech coaching legend remains dialed in to the college football landscape, and he believes Kirby Smart has the Bulldogs on track to ultimately return to the national title game.

“I was having dinner with Nick (Saban) the other night, and I said with as many good programs as there are and scholarship limitations, I never thought any one team would dominate the way they have the last few years,” Beamer said. “I give Nick and Alabama a lot of credit, but I think Georgia is on it’s way, too.

“I think they are right there. When you get into a game, and a play, or three or four plays turn it around, I think they are right here.”

The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, slipped through the back door and into the College Football Playoff despite not appearing in the conference title game or beating a top-15 team during the regular season.

Alabama is the favorite in Las Vegas to win the SEC Championship this season, but Beamer made it clear he’s not counting out a Georgia repeat even though the Bulldogs lose seven starters off their defense.

“I think they are replacing them with good players, and that’s the key,” said Beamer, whose son, Shane, spent the past two seasons on the Georgia coaching staff before taking a position at Oklahoma as assistant head coach.

“Experience means something, but as long as you are recruiting solid and you are bringing in good players to replace the players you have lost, you’re on a pretty steady track.”

Frank Beamer knows all about steady success, running up a 280-143-4 record during his illustrious head coaching career, including eight conference titles and a national championship runner-up finish to Florida State in 1999.

“It all starts with recruiting, and Kirby (Smart) has done great with that,” Beamer said, “and they’ve coached them up and got them better. I think they are in for a lot of good seasons under Kirby.”

GREENSBORO, Ga. — Is the balance of power in the SEC football ranks on the verge of shifting to the East Division this season? Georgia won the SEC Championship Game last season, beating Auburn 28-7, and new Florida coach Dan Mullen took note. “I know the depth of the West is always really tough and […]

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GREENSBORO, Ga. — Is the balance of power in the SEC football ranks on the verge of shifting to the East Division this season?

Georgia won the SEC Championship Game last season, beating Auburn 28-7, and new Florida coach Dan Mullen took note.

“I know the depth of the West is always really tough and makes it really hard, but it seems the power might be shifting to the East,” Mullen said Monday at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee, where former NFL coach Bruce Arians was hosting the sixth annual Georgia Celebrity Golf Classic.

“In my nine years in Mississippi, the West won the championship every single year, and now as soon as I move to the East, two days later, the East won it again, so I seem to be on the winning side every year.”

The former Mississippi State coach is almost completely correct in his recollection. The East Division won the SEC Championship game three of the four years he served as offensive coordinator on Urban Meyer’s staff at Florida:

• 2005 Georgia 34, LSU 14

• 2006 Florida 38, Arkansas 28

• 2007 LSU 21, Tennessee 17

• 2008 Florida 31, Alabama 20

But to Mullen’s point on Monday, coaching changes might key a shift moving forward.

Consider, former Nick Saban defensive coordinators Kirby Smart and Jeremy Pruitt have moved to the East as head coaches, and now Mullen has flipped from Mississippi State to the Gators.

The depth in the West could be questioned moving forward.

Ole Miss is besieged with leftover issues from Hugh Freeze’s documented problem tenure, and once-celebrated Arkansas coach Bret Bielema is out at Arkansas after a 29-34 run from 2013-17.

Of the six coaches who will be making their first appearance at SEC Media Days next week in Atlanta, four are from the SEC West.

Outside of Georgia’s SEC Championship Game dominance, however, last season didn’t present much evidence that the East Division was on the verge of league supremacy.

GREENSBORO, Ga. — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart has figured out a lot comes with winning an SEC Championship. There are a lot of expectations, and a lot of work. “The grind never stops, as long as you have this piece of equipment with you,” Smart said Monday, holding up his phone. “This is the […]

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GREENSBORO, Ga. — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart has figured out a lot comes with winning an SEC Championship.

There are a lot of expectations, and a lot of work.

“The grind never stops, as long as you have this piece of equipment with you,” Smart said Monday, holding up his phone. “This is the traveling office.”

Smart wasat the Ritz-Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee on Monday, where former NFL coach Bruce Arians was hosting the sixth annual Georgia Celebrity Golf Classic. The event is held to support and develop programs which strive to prevent and ameliorate abuse and neglect of children.

GREENSBORO, Ga. — The Georgia football quarterback situation is among the most celebrated in college football. Former two-time NFL Coach of the Year Bruce Arians did nothing to dispel that sentiment on Monday at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee. “There are no worries at the quarterback position at the University of Georgia for a […]

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GREENSBORO, Ga. — The Georgia football quarterback situation is among the most celebrated in college football.

Former two-time NFL Coach of the Year Bruce Arians did nothing to dispel that sentiment on Monday at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee.

“I was up at spring practice, and they looked fantastic, and they were working hard, a great practice to watch,” Arians said. “The young quarterback is just an unbelievable athlete.”

Fields, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect from Kennesaw, Ga., drew rave reviews throughout the recruiting process and was the No 1-ranked dual-threat quarterback according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Fromm, however, remains the leader on the team from Arians’ observations.

“I’m amazed at Jake, his command of the team, not just on the field,” Arians said. “When I was sitting in the team meeting room, he walked in, and you could tell it was his team.”

GREENSBORO, Ga. — Georgia’s running back stable includes another thoroughbred with the arrival of Miami-Northwestern product James Cook. Cook, an explosive runner expected to challenge for immediate playing time in the Bulldogs’ star-studded backfield, indicated his arrival in Athens with a social media post last week. The school has yet to officially confirm Cook’s presence, […]

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GREENSBORO, Ga. — Georgia’s running back stable includes another thoroughbred with the arrival of Miami-Northwestern product James Cook.

Cook, an explosive runner expected to challenge for immediate playing time in the Bulldogs’ star-studded backfield, indicated his arrival in Athens with a social media post last week.

The school has yet to officially confirm Cook’s presence, but Georgia football coach Kirby Smart indicated on Monday that Cook is indeed in the fold.

“I think a lot of people know,” Smart said, asked about Cook at the Arians Family Foundation Celebrity golf tournament at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee on Monday.

“If you watch social media, you know.”

Cook posted a picture on social media last week showing his locker inside the Bulldogs’ football complex in Athens. He later took down the post.

Those who watch college football know that Smart has elevated Georgia football to dynamic proportion just two seasons.

Watch James Cook

The Bulldogs’ offense ranked among the most efficient in the nation last season, including a run game that pounded out 258.4 yards per game.

Georgia lost tailbacks Sony Michel and Nick Chubb to the NFL draft, but with four of five starting offensive linemen returning, there’s not expected to be much dropoff.

D’Andre Swift, Elijah Holyfield, and Brian Herrien return, and now Cook and fellow freshman Zamir White enter the mix. All are expected to be in the hunt for playing time. White will likely be brought back in slowly as he recovers from a knee injury.

Cook is the younger brother of NFL tailback Dalvin Cook, who starred at Florida State.

Former Georgia signee D’Antne Demery has reached a plea deal in a domestic violence case against his former girlfriend, according to OnlineAthens.com’s Marc Weiszer. Demery pled guilty in state court to three misdemeanors: simple battery, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to property, according to court records. Per the OnlineAthens report: The Brunswick native admitted in an amended accusation that […]

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Former Georgia signee D’Antne Demery has reached a plea deal in a domestic violence case against his former girlfriend, according to OnlineAthens.com’s Marc Weiszer.

Demery pled guilty in state court to three misdemeanors: simple battery, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to property, according to court records.

Per the OnlineAthens report:

The Brunswick native admitted in an amended accusation that on April 22, 2017, he did “intentionally make physical contact of an insulting and provoking nature,” with the victim “by grabbing her and forcing her against the wall.”

Demery, a former 4-star offensive lineman, was involved in the incident during the same weekend as his G-Day game visit last year. He instead enrolled at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College in July after Georgia rescinded its scholarship offer.

Demery signed his letter of intent to Florida International in December and enrolled in January.

The Georgia men’s track and field team won the first national championship in program history during the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Eugene, Ore., on Friday. The title comes three months after the Bulldogs women’s team won its first indoor national championship. The track team is the first Georgia men’s squad to win a national title […]

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The Georgia men’s track and field team won the first national championship in program history during the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Eugene, Ore., on Friday.

The title comes three months after the Bulldogs women’s team won its first indoor national championship.

The track team is the first Georgia men’s squad to win a national title since the men’s tennis team in 2008.

Four who mattered

Denzel Comenentia: The junior won the hammer throw and shot put competitions.

Kendal Williams: The junior finished third in the 200-meter dash in 20.32 seconds.

Keenon Laine: The junior finished third in the high jump at 7-foot-3.

Antonios Merlos: The freshman set a personal best in the high jump at 7-1.75, which earned a fifth-place finish.

Worth mentioning

Redemption: Senior Cejhae Greene, who failed to qualify for the 100 meters last year, finished in 10.37 seconds, good for ninth place. He was the Bulldogs’ highest scorer in the event since Manley Waller in 1987.

Quick success: Petros Kyprianou is in his third season as coach and has worked with the program since 2008, initially joining as an assistant.

Former Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Chicago White Sox’s game on Saturday afternoon, continuing his transition to the Windy City. Smith, the No. 8 overall pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2018 NFL Draft, threw from the mound and turned in a decent effort. Here’s a clip: […]

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Former Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Chicago White Sox’s game on Saturday afternoon, continuing his transition to the Windy City.

Smith, the No. 8 overall pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2018 NFL Draft, threw from the mound and turned in a decent effort. Here’s a clip:

]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/football/watch-roquan-smith-throws-ceremonial-first-pitch-at-chicago-white-sox-game/feed0Predicting which Georgia games will air on CBS this seasonhttps://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-games-cbs-2018
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-games-cbs-2018#respondThu, 31 May 2018 11:00:34 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=118816

Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. Which Georgia games will air on CBS? On Wednesday, CBS announced its SEC on CBS schedule for the 2018 college football season, and the […]

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Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more.

Which Georgia games will air on CBS?

On Wednesday, CBS announced its SEC on CBS schedule for the 2018 college football season, and the Georgia Bulldogs are already on the slate twice. The Georgia-South Carolina game in Columbia, S.C. will be broadcast by the network at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 8. The Georgia-Florida game will also keep its traditional 3:30 CBS kickoff on Oct. 27.

CBS, which gets the first option on every SEC game, is allowed to air each SEC team as many as five times in a given regular season. Considering Georgia figures to be one of the most high-profile teams in college football next season, chances are good the network will reach its limit of five Bulldogs games. That begs the question, what will those other three games be?

It isn’t quite as simple as just picking the three games that look the best on paper. You also have to take into account who else is playing each week and how good those teams could be at any point in the season. But by cross-referencing this season’s SEC schedule and CBS schedule, we can come up with a good guess as to which Georgia games will be featured. Here are the options:

at Missouri (Sept. 22): On paper, there isn’t much exciting about this game. Jimbo Fisher will also be coaching his first SEC game at Texas A&M that day — a trip to Tuscaloosa to face Nick Saban and Alabama.

vs. Tennessee (Sept. 29): This being Jeremy Pruitt’s inaugural season with the Vols, there will be plenty of interest in his return to Athens, as well as seeing how wide the gap is between Georgia and Tennessee. The biggest obstacle to this airing on CBS is another major return — Dan Mullen heading back to Mississippi State for the first time as Florida coach.

vs. Vanderbilt (Oct. 6): Georgia’s games with Vanderbilt rarely thrill, but this game’s chances benefit from no obvious marquee SEC matchups this week — LSU at Florida, Alabama at Arkansas and Auburn at Mississippi State stand out most.

at LSU (Oct. 13): Now we get cooking. Georgia at LSU could be one of the biggest games in the SEC this season, and not only because of how rarely the Dawgs make a trip to Death Valley. If LSU has a strong first half of 2018 — a big “if” considering its onerous schedule — this one has the potential to be the national game of the week.

at Kentucky (Nov. 3): This will be the first of back-to-back weekends in which CBS will air an SEC doubleheader. Alabama at LSU is pretty much guaranteed one of those spots. Texas A&M at Auburn could have major implications in the SEC West title race, so I consider it the most likely to take the other spot.

vs. Auburn (Nov. 10): And this will be the second SEC on CBS doubleheader. Between that and the fact that it will also be an SEC Championship Game rematch — as well as the third edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry in a year — I guarantee this one ends up on CBS.

Let’s start with the obvious: LSU and Auburn. Unless something crazy and unpredictable happens this season, those two games are shoo-ins to be broadcast by CBS. After that, it gets a bit trickier. I’m not confident in this pick, but I’m going to put my money on Tennessee. Let me know which games you think will be aired on CBS down in the comments.

ICYMI: SEC meetings edition

There’s more news than you can shake a stick at coming out of the SEC’s annual meeting in Destin, Fla. So to keep you abreast of everything that’s happening in the league, here are links to the major stories of day two for your perusal.

In addition to that early-season cupcake, Crean also announced another more interesting nonconference matchup: Arizona State and coach Bobby Hurley will travel to Athens on Dec. 15. Crean also confirmed a game at Temple as well as a showdown with UMass in Athens on Dec. 30.

He also talked about speaking with Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner in an effort to move the annual game with the Jackets away from winter break so students at both schools can become more involved in the basketball edition of the rivalry.

Three UGA softball stars named All-Americans

Georgia softball seniors Cortni Emanuel and Brittany Gray and junior Alyssa DiCarlo have been named All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the organization announced Wednesday. Emanuel and Gray were named to the second team, while DiCarlo earned a place on the third team.

In addition to that, Emanuel was named the 2018 New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe Award winner, an award presented to the best base stealer in college softball. She leads the nation with 51 stolen bags this season.

Georgia is in Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series, which begins Thursday. The Bulldogs will open the double-elimination tournament against a familiar foe — the Florida Gators. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN2.

Want to attack every day with the latest Georgia football recruiting info? That’s what the Intel will bring at least five days a week. We’re going to call today’s blog Warren McClendon Wednesday as we bring out the latest update on the South Georgia UGA legacy from Brunswick (Ga.) High School. Warren McClendon shared his […]

We’ll try to cover a lot of the quick basics regarding McClendon and then get down to the details.

The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder ranks on the 247Sports composite as the nation’s No. 26 tackle for 2019. That slots him at No. 248 overall.

McClendon will graduate and enroll early.

Georgia and South Carolina are recruiting him the hardest.

He did say that at least of couple schools in that top 5 are somewhat ahead of the pack. That leads to a natural conclusion about Georgia and South Carolina. That’s my conclusion, anyway.

The 4-star tackle isn’t sure about when he will decide. But he does plan to take all of his officials this fall and then he will effort to make his college commitment after that. Once he decides, then his process is over. He hopes to honor the word commitment with his decision.

He’s also going to have a very busy month of June. McClendon aims to visit every member of that top 5 in June. The only specific trips he still has to set would be unofficial visits to Georgia and Tennessee.

Location is not a factor. Neither, really, is playing time — although there are a couple of schools inside that top 5 that offer a greater window to play early than others.

McClendon said that he hasn’t even reached the point where he reached a private leader yet. “A lot of going back-and-forth right now,” he said. “Overthinking it and stuff like that.”

That’s a good quick look at all the pieces on the board for McClendon.

Breaking down that top 5 for Warren McClendon

The 4-star tackle will take an unofficial visit to Auburn next week. Florida will get another trip on June 8. He will return to visit the South Carolina staff in Columbia on June 14-15. Georgia and Tennessee also need to get wedged in there prior to the dead period.

He was ready to trim down his recruiting options.

“Just trying to focus on those five schools that I’m really looking [at],” McClendon said. “It was a way to just narrow it all down and stop having all those other coaches [at other schools] texting me and all that.”

Was it getting daunting?

Four-star tackle Warren McClendon was first spotted by DawgNation as a high school freshman. That’s when he appeared to be even more polished a prospect than high school junior and future U.S. Army All-American D’Antne Demery at Brunswick High School. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

“You always have those coaches wanting to text you every day and talk to you,” he said. “Sometimes yes [it is hard] but I always do respond. Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to respond but I always do.”

It is closer than most might think. He wants to major in physical therapy and he’s confident that all of those schools will prepare him academically for that career path, too.

“There are schools that are above each other but they are all really kind of close,” McClendon said. “I am considering all of them.”

This next passage will read straight like textbook recruiting reporting. We asked McClendon to name the single biggest drawing factor for each member of that final group.

He did so pretty succinctly. Especially for a guy who won’t turn 18 years old until next April.

Auburn: “That would be [offensive line] Coach [J.B.] Grimes. I’ve built a relationship with Coach Grimes ever since he got back to Auburn. I like him as a coach.”

“They probably talk to me almost three times a week about coming up on a visit,” he continued, “so when I told him yesterday about coming up on a visit next week, he was excited.”

Florida: “That’s coach [Dan] Mullen and [offensive line] Coach [John] Hevesy because we have been building a relationship since they were at Mississippi State. They were recruiting me pretty hard. Now they are at Florida and it is close to home. I just like it.”

Georgia: “Just being the home state team and always being a Georgia fan as a young person. The family history we have there. I just like it up there, too.”

South Carolina: “That’s because my cousin [offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon] is there and [offensive line] Coach [Eric] Wolford. We’ve built a relationship since they offered me and I like it up there, too.”

Tennessee: “That is because of [offensive line coach] Coach [Will] Friend and Coach [Jeremy] Pruitt. When coach Pruitt was at Alabama, he was recruiting me really hard and now that he is over at Tennessee he is recruiting me even harder. Coach Friend is recruiting me pretty hard, too.”

“I like what they are doing at Tennessee. They have a good class right now, too.”

He thinks he could get on the field quickest at Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. Florida, he has been told, is losing six offensive linemen after the 2018 season.

Will it come down to UGA and South Carolina with Warren McClendon?

I remember asking McClendon a while back about the family influences with his cousin at South Carolina. McClendon played and coached at Georgia before becoming the offensive coordinator for the Gamecocks.

His uncle Willie McClendon was a great UGA tailback back in the 1970s and really established the McClendon name in Athens.

Warren McClendon told DawgNation that Georgia line coach Sam Pittman and his South Carolina offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon (his cousin) are the two heaviest recruiting relationships in his decision. (Jeff Sentell/ SEC Country)

Which one of those family tugs was the strongest? McClendon said that most might think that it would be UGA because that’s the school most of his family grew up loving. That was working to offset the current employment status with his cousin in Columbia.

But it appears that is a matter that is constantly evolving.

“That is still something there that is tugging on me with this,” McClendon said.

He said that is now surprising now to see different pockets of his family put their cards on the table for Georgia or South Carolina.

“Actually, a lot do,” he said. “That was surprising. Yeah. Some of my Georgia family and the Georgia fans in my family have switched over to South Carolina now. So it is just all crazy.”

He did acknowledge that the members of his family that are now in the Carolina corner are the ones that are the most directly connected to that member of the coaching staff.

McClendon said he is looking at the Georgia Tech game (Nov. 24) for his official visit to Athens. The main contender for the counterpart visit to Columbia would be the UGA game in the second week of the season.

It was interesting to learn that Sam Pittman at UGA is recruiting McClendon solely as a tackle. That seemed significant given that the Bulldogs could only sign two tackles this year.

“Georgia recruits me as a tackle and everybody else recruits me as both a tackle and a guard,” McClendon said.

He also said that he was most comfortable projecting to play tackle on Saturdays in the SEC.

The Sam Pittman and Bryan McClendon factors at work here

When asked, he acknowledged that Pittman, the UGA line coach, and his cousin are the two most central coach/recruiting figures in his decision.

McClendon has a clear opinion about Pittman. He’s been talking to him since Pittman recruited former Brunswick U.S. Army All-American D’Antne Demery in the class of 2017.

“He’s a great guy to be around,” said McClendon of Pittman. “He’s a great coach and is really one of the main reasons why Georgia is in my top 5. He is just a good person to be around. … Everything he does is funny. He’s just a fun person to be around really. You can’t be around him and not have fun.”

Pardon the hypothetical here, but he was asked how he would view South Carolina if Pittman coached the line there … and Bryan McClendon is recruiting him to Georgia.

“Oh, man,” he said. “That’s a tough one. I haven’t thought about that. I don’t know the answer to that.”

McClendon said he doesn’t have any more pressing questions about Georgia.

“Coach Pittman says he likes my technique and just how physical I am when taking on the pass rush,” he said. “He said he just likes me a lot.”

He also said he feels the future is very bright in Athens.

“They’ve turned the program around from where they were before in basically a year,” he said. “That’s pretty good. I only see them going up from where they are now. I see them winning a couple of national championships in their future with how things are going now.”

Cortez ‘Mack 10’ Andrews continues to hold UGA in his top 5

Cortez Andrews is going to wind up playing in the SEC, as well. That seems like the 1-foot putt of predictions when it comes to the 4-star safety prospect from Tallahassee, Fla.

The Alabama legacy grew up with the Tide as his dream school because his father, Carlos, played at Alabama from 2001-04. That’s why the nation’s No. 25 safety prospect from Amos P. Godby High once had the Tide as his dream school.

Cortez Andrews compared his G-Day experience to a really good Chick-Fil-A sandwich. He’s smart to consider a post-football career in communications as a sports broadcaster. (Cortez Andrews/Contributed photo)

His thoughts centered on Kirby Smart and the Georgia defense. He focused on the relationship he has had with Kirby Smart dating back to landing a scholarship offer in the spring of his sophomore year.

“Aw man [the] University of Georgia,” Andrews told Griffin. “Coach Smart has known me since my 10th-grade year. I actually got a scholarship offer from him in the spring of my 10th-grade year. Going up there is all about family. They talk to me a lot. My birthday they actually sent me a ton of birthday cards. It is all about family with them and you know life after football. Just the way they have been on me. I just love the way that Dawg defense is.”

“That played a big role in it. You know Coach Smart came from Alabama. He was a DB growing up. He did a lot of stuff with that Georgia defense. That’s why I can definitely see it there. I love that defense.”

He also had a novel answer about what a school could do that would cause him to lose interest.

“Selling me dreams is probably the worst thing for me [to hear] as a recruit,” Andrews said. “I don’t like that. That has happened a lot in the past with a lot of other schools selling me dreams of ‘you are this and that’ and ‘you are going to be this’ and ‘you are going to come here and play right away’ and that is all stuff I don’t want to hear. Me being a top recruit or a player some guys want to hear that stuff. But for me as a person, I work for everything I have got. I want to be able to work for everything.

“I want to come in and leave my impact somewhere but I want to work and I also don’t like being sold false dreams. You know what I am saying? I’d rather listen to somebody be real. Keep it real.”

Miss any Intel? The DawgNation recruiting archive will get you up to speed just as fast as former Georgia All-American LB Roquan Smith found the ball after the snap.

]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/football/recruiting/georgia-bulldogs-football-recruiting-ol-warren-mcclendon-top-5/feed0Georgia advances to College World Series with 2-1 extra-inning victory over Tennesseehttps://www.dawgnation.com/softball/georgia-advances-to-college-world-series-with-victory-over-tennessee
https://www.dawgnation.com/softball/georgia-advances-to-college-world-series-with-victory-over-tennessee#respondSat, 26 May 2018 21:30:34 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=118487

Georgia was one out from clinching a spot in the Women’s College World Series before Tennessee pinch-hitter Cailin Hannon drove in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings. Then, Cortni Emanuel came through in the clutch for the Bulldogs in the eighth, hitting a solo home run to power the […]

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Georgia was one out from clinching a spot in the Women’s College World Series before Tennessee pinch-hitter Cailin Hannon drove in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings.

Then, Cortni Emanuel came through in the clutch for the Bulldogs in the eighth, hitting a solo home run to power the Bulldogs to a 2-1 victory and a sweep of the best-of-three Athens Super Regional, sending Georgia to Oklahoma City.

Three who mattered

Mary Wilson Avant — The sophomore from Macon, Ga., was phenomenal, mixing in her changeup to keep the Volunteers hitters off-balance.

Alyssa DiCarlo — After Justice Milz singled to lead off the top of the seventh, DiCarlo wasted no time getting her across home plate, hitting a triple to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

COLUMBUS — These Bulldog Club meetings — or Coaches’ Caravans, as they’re calling them this year — just aren’t that big of a deal anymore. That’s the only conclusion one can draw from the latest one, held Monday night at the Columbus Trade & Convention Center. Beautiful venue, by the way. Cool place. The Iron […]

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COLUMBUS — These Bulldog Club meetings — or Coaches’ Caravans, as they’re calling them this year — just aren’t that big of a deal anymore. That’s the only conclusion one can draw from the latest one, held Monday night at the Columbus Trade & Convention Center.

Beautiful venue, by the way. Cool place. The Iron Works, I think they call this particular area, which features a lot of railroad tracks and reclaimed warehouses and the like. Georgia football coach Kirby Smart, men’s basketball coach Tom Crean and radio play-by-play personality Scott Howard flew down here Monday on UGA’s plane and then flew right back out after a short appearance in front of a smattering of fans and alumni.

It wasn’t a bad crowd — about 290 according to one of the organizers — but they sort of got swallowed up by the expansive venue and a goodly portion of empty chairs. And based on the dozens and dozens of untouched crabcakes and chocolate-covered strawberries, they were expecting a lot more.

But nobody was complaining. Well, there was that one guy at the back of the room. After Smart wrapped up his economical 10-minute speech — which remarkably included zero information about the actual football players — one man turned to his buddy next to him and said loud enough for everyone to hear, “he owes us another 25 minutes, doesn’t he?”

Everybody laughed.

Otherwise, though, it was what you usually expect of these annual events, especially coming off a 13-2 season and National Championship Game appearance. Smart — and Crean before him — was definitely feeling the love of the crowd. Smart received a rousing standing ovation, complete with barks and a lot of “woos” and “hoos.” Then he made them laugh.

“After listening to Coach Crean, he had us all ready to bust through a brick wall,” Smart said. “I was ready to bust through the curtains and shoot some 3s.”

Smart proceeded to tell the group how glad he was to be here in Columbus, which happens to be one of his favorite places. He also remarked about the “fertile recruiting ground” that the area is and thanked the fan base, again, for following the Bulldogs around the country during the magical 13-2 run last season.

Then he basically ran through the schedule, where the Bulldogs are on the calendar, how hard the players are going to be worked this summer and the importance of the team concept. You know, “Together Everyone, Achieves More.” He hit on that for a while.

Without going into specifics, Smart also mentioned that he has some depth concerns but added he is excited about the freshmen coming in next week and the prospects his staff is currently recruiting. Otherwise, there was no question-and-answer session, usually customary at these types of events.

No, Smart addressed the pressing team matters in a 10-minute session with reporters beforehand. However, he and Crean did sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans before delivering their speeches, so perhaps fans got their pressing questions answered then.

Sort of abruptly, Smart said thanks for coming and left. It was over. Howard came back to the podium just to make sure everybody knew.

“That’s all we’ve got, folks,” he said with a wave of arms over his head, like he was stopping a play clock. “Thanks for coming. And go Dogs!”

And off the Dogs went, back on their big bird to Athens.

Of course, meetings such as these aren’t as necessary as they once were. Back when Dan Magill first made the UGA’s Bulldog Club tour the greatest of its kind in the country, it was a spectacle. It was a way to reach into the far corners of the state where perhaps Georgia’s coaches and overall presence wasn’t as readily accessible.

Nowadays, people can access the Bulldogs anytime they want. There is no shortage of avenues, thanks to the World Wide Web, conference television networks and smart phones. Did I mention DawgNation’s app?

But there is still something special about fans being somewhere live and in person with their heroes. Smart and Crean will take their mini tour next to Savannah, where they’ll likely follow a similar script Tuesday night. Then we won’t see them again in a public venue until late in the summer in Atlanta.

There will be some donor stops between now and then, but nothing that welcomes “Everyman Fan” and a little media coverage.

At the rate these events are regressing, this time next year we may only catch Kirby via hologram.

Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. 5 Bulldogs who could break out on offense Compared to the defense, Georgia’s offense heads into the 2018 season relatively unscathed from departures. Although the […]

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Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more.

5 Bulldogs who could break out on offense

Compared to the defense, Georgia’s offense heads into the 2018 season relatively unscathed from departures.

Although the Dawgs lost Nick Chubb and Sony Michel at tailback, they should be improved at every other position on offense. And there are plenty of talented Dawgs on the verge of a breakout campaign.

Here are five Bulldogs ready to make a difference.

Riley Ridley, wide receiver: Ridley had a solid freshman outing in 2016, hauling in 12 catches for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns. That production dropped steeply his sophomore season with just 8 catches for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns. But in the National Championship Game, he rose to the occasion with 6 catches for 82 yards. If he can continue that connection with Jake Fromm this season, he could make a play to become UGA’s top receiver.

Ben Cleveland, right guard: Cleveland beat out Solomon Kindley and was fantastic in a run of five starts at right guard to end last season. Although I think he’ll play out his UGA career at guard, he could see work at right tackle if one of the talented freshman guards steps up and the coaches believe Cleveland is a cut above Isaiah Wilson and Cade Mays, at least for now.

Elijah Holyfield, tailback: Holyfield has done some serious bulking up recently and appears to be in line to become Georgia’s No. 2 back behind D’Andre Swift. Based on how Georgia has used its tailbacks the past few years, that’s as good as a starting job at some schools. But he’ll have to hold off fellow junior Brian Herrien, as well as freshmen Zamir White and James Cook to hold on to the gig.

Isaac Nauta, tight end: In 2016, Nauta looked like a future star, hauling in 29 catches for 361 yards and 3 touchdowns. Then, Georgia decided to stop throwing to tight ends and his production dropped to 9 catches for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns. But with a greater emphasis on the passing game potentially in the cards this season, Nauta could once again take on a larger role in the offense and finally turn into the star that was expected from him last season.

Ahkil Crumpton, wide receiver: Crumpton had a quiet 2017 — 5 catches, 95 yards and 1 TD — but it’s difficult to expect too much from a JUCO transfer who joined the team only a few weeks before the season began. But he did use those few opportunities to prove he can be an explosive playmaker, because 78 of those yards and that TD came on the same play against Georgia Tech and he had another big play at G-Day. That’s a small sample size, but now that he has a year in the offense, I think Crumpton could be one of the most explosive players on the team, if his number is called more often.

Diamond Dogs end regular season on high

This has been a resurgent season for Georgia baseball (37-17 overall, 18-12 SEC) and it ended with the No. 13 Diamond Dawgs beating No. 6 Arkansas two games to one in a three-game series at Foley Field. And they clinched the series in thrilling fashion, with a 3-2 win Saturday as Keegan McGovern gunned down Arkansas outfielder Dominic Fletcher at home on a potential sacrifice fly that would have tied the game.

I can’t think of few more exciting ways to head into the postseason than with a play like this.

Now the focus turns to the SEC Tournament, which commences this week in Hoover, Ala. Georgia holds the No. 3 seed and will open the tourney Wednesday, May 23 at 10:30 a.m ET against the winner of the first-round game between 11th-seeded Texas A&M and sixth-seeded Vanderbilt. The game will be shown live on SEC Network.

Georgia softball to host Tennessee in Athens Super Regional

While Georgia baseball is about to start its postseason run, Georgia softball is in the middle of a run of its own.

The Bulldogs went 3-0 in the NCAA Athens Regional over the weeken, beating Harvard once and Northwestern twice to advance to the Athens Super Regional. They’ll meet a familiar foe this weekend, with SEC East rival Tennessee coming to Athens for a best-of-three series for a place in the Women’s College World Series. The super regional starts Thursday.

Tom Crean hires 2 staff members

It was a busy weekend for Tom Crean as the new Georgia men’s basketball coach put the finishing touches to his staff by hiring his third and final assistant as well as a new support staffer.

Amir Abdur-Rahim will join Chad Dollar and Joe Scott as Crean’s assistants. Abdur-Rahim has strong ties to the state of Georgia. He’s a graduate of Wheeler High School in Marietta and also coached at Georgia Tech for a spell. He also has SEC experience, spending the last four seasons as an assistant at Texas A&M. And if his name sounds familiar, you probably know his brother, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, a former member of the Atlanta Hawks and an NBA All-Star.

“Amir has proven himself to be an outstanding basketball coach with the drive and knowledge to help develop players, game plans and overall scope of the programs he has worked in,” Crean said in a statement. “His ability to recruit is shown in his energy, dogged determination and relationship building. His knowledge of the SEC and ability to work with our big men will provide immediate help.”

Crean also added Jake Thelen to his staff as the director of basketball operations. Thelen worked for Crean at Indiana as a graduate assistant before heading back to his alma mater, Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., as an assistant coach last season after Crean was fired by the Hoosiers.

Good dog

]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-5-offensive-players-break-out-2018/feed0Nation’s top rising junior Bryan Bresee says one family member has UGA on tophttps://www.dawgnation.com/football/recruiting/nations-top-rising-junior-bryan-bresee-says-one-family-member-has-uga-on-top
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/recruiting/nations-top-rising-junior-bryan-bresee-says-one-family-member-has-uga-on-top#respondFri, 18 May 2018 02:39:24 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=117879

Want to attack every day with the latest UGA recruiting info? That’s what the Intel will bring at least five days a week. This update collects a few thoughts from 5-star rising junior DE Bryan Bresee about his G-Day trip. Bresee, the nation’s No. 1 rising junior prospect on 247Sports for 2020, took trips to […]

Bresee, the nation’s No. 1 rising junior prospect on 247Sports for 2020, took trips to check out UGA in March and April.

That second trip was on G-Day. It won over at least one member of the Bresee family.

“My oldest sister, she told me that is her favorite [school] right now,” Bresee said. “I think she went to Alabama for like two weeks [for college] and she got homesick, like transferred back to go to school in Virginia. I think she was just happy to be back down South. Everyone liked it down there a lot.”

Bryan Bresee plans to start cutting down to a list of top schools later this fall during his junior year. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation.com)

Bailey Bresee has UGA on top. That is at least a start for the Bulldogs in their quest to reel in the nation’s top player for 2020.

What did the rest of his family think?

“They are really supportive no matter where we are,” Bresee said. “They will kind of tell me how they feel about things, but they are just kind of there for support for me. When they talk about it, they always say like, ‘You will imagine every school as right next to home and we will just come to wherever you go.’

“They always tell me to pick where I want to go and they will be there.”

Why does he think his older sister now favors the Bulldogs?

“I don’t know,” Bresee said. “I just think she just loves the South. So, I think that is was cool for her to be back down in the South.”

The 6-foot-5, 280-pound rising junior hails from Maryland. That’s a state that doesn’t have spring football. So, he hasn’t been on the grind as much over the last few weeks like his peers in the Deep South.

The big Bryan Bresee takeaway from his G-Day visit

What stood out for him at G-Day?

Bryan Bresee was joined by his father, Rich (at left), at G-Day last month. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation.com)

“I think just seeing all the fans who were there for a spring game,” he said. “It was a ton of people there and it was only a spring game. That was really cool.”

Bresee had hoped to be able to see a good representation of what a gameday crowd would look like at UGA.

Consider that done. His favorite part of the trip was checking out the improvised “DawgWalk” that snaked north of the bookstore instead of just to the right of it.

“Definitely a big deal,” he said. “That was what really stood out to me.”

Team Bresee was well-represented in Athens that day. He was joined by his parents and two of his three sisters. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound junior from Maryland is the second youngest of four siblings.

He’s taken a lot of visits over the last few months. He said that he and his family have no visits planned in the near future.

“We’ve been on a good amount of visits and I feel like my parents are ready for a break from it,” he said.

The intention is to schedule more visits for the summer, but they haven’t settled on those yet. There is the possibility he might camp at UGA.

“I have definitely thought about coming down and working out with [UGA defensive line] coach [Tray] Scott,” he said. “It would be good to see how the coaches coach.”

In an effort to maintain a balance here, Bresee said that his one sister is on the record about how she feels about UGA. His other siblings and family members have yet to make their opinions known.

What did Kirby Smart tell Bryan Bresee at G-Day?

Bresee and his family got to meet with Kirby Smart after the game. His family wasn’t able to catch up with the 2017 SEC Coach of the Year prior to the spring game.

Bryan Bresee said he got the chance to chat with Georgia coach Kirby Smart after G-Day last month. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation.com)

The message Smart shared with them was about his future plans for the program.

“He just was talking about how he wants to keep building on that right atmosphere at Georgia,” Bresee said. “I think he’s done a really good job of that so far.”

He said that the communication lines with UGA are still strong. He’s a Class of 2020 prospect so he has to initiate those conversations.

“I talk to Coach Scott just about every other week,” Bresee said.

It turns out Bresee was also targeted by UGA’s 5-star recruiter from the Class of 2019 on G-Day. That would be one Nolan Smith.

“I talked with Nolan Smith a lot,” Bresee said. “He found me and talked to me a lot that day.”

What did he tell Bresee?

“He just said for him that’s home,” Bresee said. “He said that was where it is for him and he just couldn’t see himself playing anywhere else.”

Nation’s No. 5 DE Antonio Alfano will announce Friday

Antonio Alfano, the nation’s No. 5 strong-side DE prospect for this cycle, is set to make his decision Friday.

He is down to Alabama, Georgia and Penn State. The New Jersey native also ranks as the nation’s No. 58 overall prospect for 2019 on the 247Sports composite.

Call me surprised if he chooses the Bulldogs. Alabama seems to have the best shot there with Alfano.

Alfano did visit UGA earlier this year. He met with the coaches and had a good visit. But he didn’t get the chance to connect with and relate to the players like he did on his trip to Tuscaloosa.

That could very well be another deciding factor for Alfano on Friday.

The way the next few years go is all gonna be decided tomorrow. Its a Business Decision.

Georgia finished first in the recruiting rankings in the 2018 class. Expect the Bulldogs to be near the top in 2019, too. DawgNation’s Jeff Sentell will answer a UGA recruiting Question of the Day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can ask him your questions on Facebook Live, Twitter or the DawgNation Message board forum. Previous QODs […]

QUESTION OF THE DAY

The QOD comes from DawgNation message board forum user coastaldawg with his 350th post: When do our summer camps start this year? Do recruits have to be invited in order to attend camps? Do you expect more offers and commitments to come from the camps?

Coastal brings up a good topic. It affords the chance to discuss a revamp of a lot of the ways UGA used to go about its recruiting. Dawg Night is now in mothballs.

Why? Because it is not the way a top-tier program should recruit its elite targets.

Kirby Smart’s football camp was chock-full of eager prospects last summer. (Jeff Sentell/SECcountry.com)

More than a few prospects, especially the younger ones, left those old UGA Dawg Night camps with a bad taste in their mouth.

They didn’t get good reps or exposure. The face time wasn’t attainable with the coaches as a part of a horde.

That’s not the way to woo potential future players on campus. That time should be maximized for impact, not minimized by the campers and their families outnumbering the UGA staff by a 30-to-1 margin.

Think about this for any industry or slice of life for a second.

Gather together your top people, clients, friends and family members.

Populate the event with so many folks that it is hard to get 1-on-1 time.

The lack of real 1-on-1 time limits the ability for the program to create lasting memories in a hyper-fast recruiting culture.

The more players who show up, the less important those on hand actually feel.

Think about a family reunion that swells to 75-100 folks. How hard is it to get time to meet with every family and their children?

Who remembers the concert better? The folks in the upper row? Or the lucky ones who got the backstage passes and got to meet and greet the band?

Kirby Smart’s Georgia program prefers to host 15-20 targets (tops) on a weekly basis. That way the coaches can connect with each prospect for some quality time. That goes for the prospects themselves and their extended families.

Of course, there are still evaluation camps during the summer. UGA will invite a lot of the players it is interested in to attend those. It is a great time to get to know and work with the prospects for 2020, 2021 and 2022.

A lot of prospects tell me they like going to those “work” camps because it gives them a teaser trailer of what it is like to get coached up by the UGA staff.

The tweet below, shared by Alabama offensive line target Javion Cohen, is an example of a prospect who is starting to draw a lot of looks. This is his time to establish himself as a bona fide player on offensive line coach Sam Pittman’s board.

It also seems like a nifty outlet to share a visual of the UGA recruiting summer calendar.

Look for UGA to host several high-profile unofficial visit weekends in June and July.

The recruiting calendar also features a drastic change this summer.

Key reminder 1: The recruiting calendar for NCAA Bowl Subdivision football changed up this year. Prospects can now go on official visits beginning April 1 of the junior year through the Sunday before the last Wednesday in June.

Key reminder 2: The new NCAA recruiting model also calls for a new dead period for Bowl Subdivision football. It runs from June 25 to July 24. What is a dead period? That means a college coach may not have face-to-face contact with any potential recruits or their parents. They cannot watch them compete or visit their high schools. Coaches can still write or talk to prospective recruits on the phone. The reality here is it allows college coaches to actually spend some time with their families on something called a “vacation” during July.

The summer months also will be a prime showcase season with the Elite 11 national quarterback derby starting June 1. The month of June also will feature the Rivals 5-Star Challenge and it will close out with the Nike The Opening Finals in late June and early July.

That event will move this year from its traditional home at Nike headquarters in Oregon to Texas.

Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. 5 Georgia defenders poised for a breakout season Georgia loses seven defensive starters from last season, a fact that is cause for some concern. […]

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Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more.

5 Georgia defenders poised for a breakout season

Georgia loses seven defensive starters from last season, a fact that is cause for some concern. How much concern, however, remains to be seen.

Although there’s plenty of youth and inexperience on Georgia’s 2018 defense, there’s also a wealth of talent. The Bulldogs have plenty of players capable of stepping up and keeping the defense as good as it expects to be.

Here are five players ready to make a difference:

Monty Rice, inside linebacker: Rice was quietly one of the most impressive freshmen on the team last season. He wasn’t as quiet at G-Day, where he racked up a game-leading 14 tackles. Roquan Smith was the team’s leading tackler the last two years, so now someone else has to claim that mantle. My money’s on Rice.

Richard LeCounte III, free safety: Kirby Smart stayed on top of LeCounte all spring. The good news is it means Smart expects a lot from the rising sophomore. The better news is that LeCounte responded with a stellar G-Day performance, picking off Jake Fromm once and nearly snagging another.

D’Andre Walker, outside linebacker: Somehow, despite being second on the team in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (13.5), Walker flew under the radar last season. But with the departures of Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy freeing up a lot of snaps at outside linebacker, the rising senior has a chance to take it to the next level and become Georgia’s pass-rusher extraordinaire.

Julian Rochester, nose tackle: John Atkins was a solid presence at nose for years, but his role — eat blocks and open lanes — was limited. Rochester is significantly more athletic than Atkins as well as a more capable rusher. Rochester will provide Georgia with a more attacking and explosive presence in the center of the defensive than it’s had in some time.

Brenton Cox, outside linebacker/defensive end: Maybe it’s a hunch — or maybe it’s the fact that he was a 5-star recruit and ranked 23rd overall in his class — but I think Cox is poised for an outstanding freshman year. He’s uber talented, has a build ready-made for the SEC and the versatility to play multiple positions. There’s a strong sense he’ll end 2018 as a major factor on the defense and the best freshman on the team.

Andy Johnson, DGD

Johnson played football and baseball at Georgia from 1971-73 before going on to a nine-year NFL career as a running back for the New England Patriots. A two-sport star as well as a versatile player on the gridiron, Johnson’s widely considered one of the greatest athletes in UGA sports history.

So sorry to hear of the passing of Bulldogs QB great Andy Johnson, a classmate of mine from junior high on. One of the nicest guys you could ever meet, and a great athlete. My sincerest condolences to his family. #ugafootball

Rest In Peace Andy Johnson, one of the kindest gentlemen and all time great Bulldog quarterback and athlete. Erk Russell once told me he was the best QB during his time in Athens. A true elite. Yet so humble. @ChipTowersDN@960theref

List-O-Mania

With six players selected, including three in the first round, Georgia had an excellent 2018 NFL Draft. There’s a good chance the Bulldogs will produce another impressive draft class next year. And the year after that. And the year after that.

[Jake] Fromm’s ascension as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks is emblematic of how quickly the quarterback landscape can change in college football. At the beginning of last season, Jacob Eason was considered the Bulldogs’ star of the future at the position. By season’s end, Fromm had UGA playing for a national title and Eason subsequently transferred to Washington. Those that watched Georgia closely last year know that despite the draft losses of Sony Michel and Nick Chubb, the running back position remains in good hands with [D’Andre] Swift, who averaged a whopping 7.6 yards per carry last year on 81 rushes. As true sophomores, Swift and Fromm won’t be draft eligible in 2019, so Georgia’s next chance for draft dominance might be 2020. Fromm has a pair of quality receiving targets in [Terry] Godwin and [Riley] Ridley, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons first-round pick Calvin Ridley.

Want to attack every day with the latest Georgia football recruiting info? That’s what the Intel will bring at least five days a week. The play sheet today calls for another chance to chat with 4-star defensive lineman target Derick Hunter. That’s the one that his Dunbar High teammates in South Florida call “Rambo.” FORT […]

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Want to attack every day with the latest Georgia football recruiting info? That’s what the Intel will bring at least five days a week. The play sheet today calls for another chance to chat with 4-star defensive lineman target Derick Hunter. That’s the one that his Dunbar High teammates in South Florida call “Rambo.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Derick Hunter said that Georgia was his leader after G-Day.

He clearly enjoyed it. He said he still relishes in the memories of that day.

Derick Hunter is an active force at his practices. He’s constantly working and urging his teammates on. It was unique to listen to him describe his friendship with the Dunbar kicker. (Jeff Sentell/ DawgNation)

But Hunter also said on Tuesday he no longer has a top school. It is complicated. Don’t expect him to name another school as his leader for the short term.

But it is not as complicated as everyone makes it out to be.

The easy thing to do would be to say that Hunter suffers from “visit love” — everywhere he goes, he loves. The recipient of the most recent visit would be his new leader because he’s just a very impressionable young man.

When asked about that, Hunter will note that it is just a courtesy to the school he just visited.

Consider this for a second: How would it look for any teenager to visit the house of friend X and then compare it to another friend’s house?

Is it respectable to bring up all the things they like about friend X’s house more? That’s the way Hunter looks at that.

“That is just real Southern hospitality to me,” Hunter said. “Being thankful. You wouldn’t want anybody to come to your house and disrespect you by talking about how great that another house was down the road immediately afterward.

“I don’t burn no bridges with anybody. If anyone gives me the offer to come play for their team, then I am going to thank you for that. That’s an opportunity for me to get out of some tough situations I have going on in my life. I am going to show my appreciation for that offer and that visit by making sure that I say nice things about that school after a good visit.”

He was committed to Miami for a time. Hunter has also said flowery things about Florida and Georgia this year. He said that about UGA before he took that first visit on G-Day, too.

The individuals I met on Wednesday around his school say that’s just the down-to-earth and polite kid that Hunter actually is. He’s a pleaser.

“People may think that I love every school that I go visit,” Hunter said. “They can think that, but that is just my way of giving back and showing my appreciation. But then everyone then thinks that I have a new school I love and a new favorite school. It is not really like that.”

He may look all mean and nasty on those highlight clips, but the reality there is he’s a pretty good kid of the inside. I had that confirmed and relayed to me over and over about Hunter on Wednesday.

A few more interesting things about Derrick Hunter

We’ve reported that Hunter was right at the 6-foot-6 mark before on DawgNation. But I no longer think he’s that tall.

He looked a bit more than 6-4 on Wednesday. His weight will also bob between 279 and 285 pounds. The Dunbar coaches plan to use Hunter at defensive end this year.

He was at defensive tackle last fall. Rambo still picked up 10 sacks. Hunter told me he was gunning for a 20-plus sack season this fall.

Derick Hunter plans to return to UGA for an extended visit this summer. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

Dunbar will also line Hunter up at tackle on offense this year. He’s just that valuable to his team on that side of the ball, too.

That’s a far cry from his freshman season. Hunter was a freshman and junior varsity receiver back then. That was about two inches and 90 pounds ago.

“He caught 9 touchdown passes for us on fades and deep balls and back shoulder throws that freshman year,” Dunbar head coach Sam Brown said. “But we saw his body and his arms and his feet and we knew he was going to grow and put on the weight and his future was going to be on the defensive line.”

Alabama was at his practice on Wednesday to watch him. It seems the Crimson Tide might plan to start actively recruiting him, too.

Hunter went on and on about how much he heard from 5-star UGA commit Nolan Smith at G-Day.

“That guy is hilarious,” Hunter said. “You can tell he really loves Georgia. He just would not stop.”

He said Smith went to Georgia coach Kirby Smart at G-Day and asked for the names of five recruits he could work on that day.

Smart simply gave him two names. Those two were Hunter and North Carolina defensive tackle C.J. Clark. Smith made quite an impression.

“He’s somebody that I really want to play with in college,” Hunter said.

Derick Hunter plans to take all five of his officials this fall during the season. Look for him to make his decision on the first day of the early period on Dec. 20. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

Here are several other quick things to know about Hunter:

If he gets the invitation to an All-American game, then he will commit at that event. If not, then he will do it the old school way — at his school with the hats. He’s been advised to sign on the first day of the early period on Dec. 20. That sounds like what he is going to do.

Smith was also wooing him to join him at IMG Academy, too.

He will return to both Clemson and Georgia this summer for unofficial visits. He will not camp. Hunter said he needs to see more of the campus at Georgia. His first visit on G-Day was very rushed. He also wants to talk to and connect with the players on the current team in Athens.

Hunter and Smith are planning to take their official visits together late this season. They are currently talking about the Georgia Tech game.

When asked to name an edge that Florida has on UGA, he pointed to academics.

When asked to provide a similar advantage for the Bulldogs on the Gators, he brought up both the facilities and the overall strength of the coaching staff.

Georgia recruits him harder than any other school. Florida and Miami are still right there, though. “I get it from all angles from the Georgia staff,” Hunter said. “It feels like the whole coaching staff hits me up.”

It will be a no-brainer for Hunter to grant officials to Florida and Georgia at this time. Look for him to take those during the fall during football season.

Clemson, Florida State and Penn State are also schools to consider here.

Hunter is motivated to now excel in the classroom. He said he’s made nothing but As and Bs this semester. “When I get a C for a grade now, I go talk to that teacher and find out what I can do to bring that grade up,” he said. “We’ve got to keep those grades up.”

Does he have a prediction about where he winds up? Not at this time.

‘Tis the season for more DawgNation PromNation?

Hannah Chalker anchored our Before the Hedges show on Monday. The latest installment had a segment that featured several UGA signees all decked out in their prom best.

Well, the feedback on that segment has been pretty interesting. DawgNation now has UGA signee prom pictures coming in from all angles. I wouldn’t be surprised if we had an additional segment on BTH next Monday night, too.

Georgia assistants Dell McGee and Cortez Hankton were in Louisiana on Tuesday night to catch 4-star running back John Emery Jr. warming up prior to his spring game. Emery Jr. is not seen as a prospect who is strongly considering the Bulldogs. He’d much rather go into a more favorable depth chart situation that would allow him to get quick second-team reps (at least) right away.

But there must be something there for him with UGA. Emery currently plans to return to UGA for another visit this weekend. That will be his second visit of 2018.

Been hearing good reports about the recovery of 3-star tackle signee Owen Condon out of Oklahoma. He has been fully cleared from his knee surgery a couple of months ago and is expected to move to Athens this month ready to go.

Miss any Intel? The DawgNation recruiting archive will get you up to speed just as fast as former Georgia All-American LB Roquan Smith found the ball after the snap.

Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. Georgia’s post-spring 2-deep Anyone who follows this blog daily — and I thank you all — will know we’ve spent the last few weeks […]

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Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more.

Georgia’s post-spring 2-deep

Anyone who follows this blog daily — and I thank you all — will know we’ve spent the last few weeks breaking down Georgia’s projected 2018 post-spring depth chart position by position, player by player. We wrapped up the series with a look at special teams Friday, but we aren’t finished with Georgia’s depth chart quite yet.

It dawned on me that in the thousands of words I’ve written about Georgia’s depth chart during the last few weeks, I never bothered to actually provide a depth chart. So, I figured I’d resolve that oversight Monday with simple two-deeps for Georgia’s offense, defense and special teams. And if you missed any posts in the series, you can catch up with these links.

Special Teams

Details of Kirby Smart’s contract released

We finally know the details of Kirby Smart’s massive new seven-year contract, provided here by Chip Towers of DawgNation. It’s all pretty basic stuff, but his buyout is potentially interesting.

Typically in college football, a coach’s buyout decreases with each year of the contract. But Smart’s contract doesn’t have a diminishing buyout. If he’s ever fired by Georgia, he’ll be owed 65 percent of his remaining contract.

If you’re interested in a deeper look at the implications of such a buyout, check out this post from Seth Emerson of The Athletic.

Georgia softball to host NCAA Regional

Georgia softball suffered an upset to Arkansas in the SEC Tournament, but with the NCAA Tournament around the corner, it will have to bounce back quickly. Luckily, the Bulldogs will hold home-field advantage in their regional.

Georgia was selected as one of 16 host sites for NCAA Regionals, which will be played at Jack Turner Stadium this weekend, May 18 to May 20. The Dawgs will host California, Harvard and Northwestern in the four-team, double-elimination regional round. They open with Harvard on Friday at 2:30 p.m. (TV: SEC Network).

This is the 17th overall — and 17th consecutive — NCAA postseason appearance for Georgia softball.

MARIETTA, Ga. — While other 2019 Georgia commits may take official visits to other schools, that’s not the case for 5-star receiver Dominick Blaylock. “I’m not visiting other schools,” Blaylock told DawgNation on Tuesday. “I’m done, yep. Georgia.” This should come as no surprise to Georgia fans, as Blaylock delivered of the Bulldogs’ earliest commitments in […]

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MARIETTA, Ga. — While other 2019 Georgia commits may take official visits to other schools, that’s not the case for 5-star receiver Dominick Blaylock.

This should come as no surprise to Georgia fans, as Blaylock delivered of the Bulldogs’ earliest commitments in the 2019 class. He committed to Georgia on July 16, 2017, over 19 offers including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Michigan and Ohio State.

Now, as he goes through spring practice at Walton High School, Blaylock can keep his attention turned to being a recruiter for Kirby Smart’s 2019 class. He has one particular target.

“Probably the main one is Chris Hinton, at Michigan,” Blaylock said. “I’m trying to flip him over to Georgia, but he’s trying to flip me over to Michigan. Hopefully I get him over to Georgia one day so he can see it all.”

Hinton, a 5-star defensive end from Greater Atlanta Christian in Norcross, Ga., isn’t the only recruit Blaylock hopes to flip. The other would be another 5-star in-state recruit. Watch the video above to hear Blaylock’s thoughts on recruiting for the Bulldogs and what he thought of Justin Fields’ spring game performance.

Video and interview by Nate Gettleman and Kasey Richardson of DawgNation.

]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/football/recruiting/dominick-blaylock-recruiting-update-chris-hinton-justin-fields-georgia-football/feed0Top-5 DE Jacolbe Cowan, Tray Scott go back years … will that pay off for Georgia?https://www.dawgnation.com/football/recruiting/georgia-football-jacolbe-cowan-tray-scott-long-relationship-2020
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/recruiting/georgia-football-jacolbe-cowan-tray-scott-long-relationship-2020#respondWed, 09 May 2018 02:23:02 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=117224

Want to attack every day with the latest Georgia football recruiting info? That’s what the Intel will bring at least five days a week. Our menu on Tuesday night centers on another North Carolina connection with elite rising junior DE Jacolbe Cowan. Tray Scott calls Jacolbe Cowan “Colbe Colb” sometimes when they chat. That’s likely […]

Tray Scott calls Jacolbe Cowan “Colbe Colb” sometimes when they chat. That’s likely a good thing because that’s the same thing Cowan’s mother calls him sometimes.

Cowan and Scott go back a ways. Like back in the days before the Avengers had ever met Black Panther. The most accurate time stamp would be spring 2015.

That was when Cowan — already a middle school talent in full bloom — was attending camps and events at North Carolina while Scott was still the defensive line coach there.

That was in the spring of his seventh-grade year — well before 247Sports ranked him the No. 3 strongside defensive end in the Class of 2020.

Defensive line coach Tray Scott will be a vital part of Jacolbe Cowan’s continued interest in UGA. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

“Back then, he treated me the same as he does now,” said Cowan, who attends Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day School. “He approached me like any other coach would approach a player now even if they were in the 10th grade, the seventh grade on a senior about to graduate. He has never changed and always been the same energetic guy. Like I said, we started building a relationship then and we are still continuing to build that relationship.”

Scott was able to position Georgia as the first school to offer Cowan a scholarship. He’s known him as long as any coach or recruiter that is currently in contact at this time.

“We speak all the time,” Cowan said. “Just working on a relationship with him and then staying in touch there as much as all the NCAA rules will permit, that. Because they can’t really contact me. He comes to school and watches me work out. Yeah, I have a great relationship with Coach Scott.”

He offered up an across-the-board excellent review of Scott’s prowess as a position coach, teacher and recruiter.

“Coach Scott does a great job of getting to know the family as well and not just the recruit,” Cowan said. “He tells me all the time that he wants to build a relationship with the Mom because at the end of the day the mom and the dad have to trust you with their sons.”

“I love how he does that and I love how he gets to know you,” Cowan added. “He’s really a great teacher with showing his players the techniques and the different ways to get to the quarterback and things like that. I just love overall how he approaches coaching and recruiting and things like that.”

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound rising junior also said he was recently measured with a 34.5-inch vertical leap at a recent camp.

The quick hits for Jacolbe Cowan

He mentions a lot of schools that are on him — as he should. 247Sports also ranks Cowan the nation’s No. 37 overall prospect for 2020.

Jacolbe Cowan is ranked the nation’s No. 3 strongside defensive end and No. 37 overall prospect in the Class of 2020 by 247Sports. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

Cowan also is considering early enrollment. But first he’s got a dizzying set of recent visits to sort through.

He went to visit Clemson in early March before embarking on a legit Big 10 tour. Those stops included Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee.

Sports Management is the current lean in terms of potential major. As for football, how have the college coaches planned to use him so far?

“Schools in the SEC like Georgia and Alabama told me that I would play my regular 5 technique in their defenses and I could move down some plays but still play my main position,” he said. “Other schools in the Big 10 and SEC have told me I would play my regular 5 technique but also heads-up with the tight end and outside the tight end most times.”

Cowan is taking a lot of visits, but don’t take that to mean an accelerated decision timeline.

“I just don’t want to cram all that stuff into my senior year,” he said. “We’re just evaluating and seeing what all my options are and which places are the best for me. But still taking my time, as well.”

He wears No. 12, but that’s not because he was a former QB. That’s in tribute to his uncle Rydell Cowan, who played cornerback at Appalachian State.

“He wore No. 12 and he had a chance at getting drafted before he had a serious knee injury coming out of college,” Jacolbe Cowan said of a pre-NFL combine injury to his uncle.

Where does UGA stand with Jacolbe Cowan after G-Day?

Cowan said he has taken three trips to Athens so far. First was a March trip last year where he picked up his UGA offer, followed by a game last season and back at G-Day last month.

He said his mother values the academics, the relationship with Scott, and the overall atmosphere and football experience at UGA.

He still lists that first trip as his favorite one to Athens.

“The fans are incredible,” he said. “Always cheering on the ‘Dawgs and just the overall buzz is there. The players you can also tell about how close-knit they are the way they play together and how they approach things. Seeing those guys and how huge they are and how hard they work is just incredible to see.”

He believes he has been to Clemson, North Carolina and South Carolina as often as he has made it down to Athens.

What does he like best about Georgia right now?

“Right now I would have to say probably the coaching staff, how well the fans are involved in their team and how close-knit the players are with each other,” he said.

He hasn’t set any leaders or top schools. That doesn’t sound like what he is looking for at this time. But he did use the phrase “high up” in terms of where he sees things right now with the Bulldogs.

“Georgia definitely will be a school that I will consider on down the road,” he said. “Being they were the first offer I have a great relationship with the coaching staff and it compares really well. It is really high up with all the other schools as well. I don’t really have any favorites. Once again, schools can’t really contact me on their own yet so I don’t know how much they really value me.”

“But I do know that Georgia is a school right now to me that is high on the list as far as comparison with everyone else.”

Cowan cites a strong relationship with the coaches at Clemson, as well.

It is the sort of approach that all the major top-notch programs should have with an elite national prospect such as Cowan at this phase of his recruiting.

Jacolbe Cowan listens like an old soul

It might seem hard to believe that a 2020 standout would craft up some ideal playlists with some classic Motown and Isley Brothers on there, but that’s the case with Cowan.

Those are his Colbe Colb jams.

“I like to switch it up when I am just vibing and chilling at home,” he said. “Just want to relax. I can throw it back to some Marvin Gaye and some Michael Jackson sometimes. It just all depends.”

Game day? That’s a different era.

“I like to listen to Future, J. Cole, NBA YoungBoy and Drake,” he said. “Those are a lot of artists that I like.”

Grades matter. He said that his current grade-point average would be right at the 3.5 mark. The Charlotte native has yet to take the ACT or SAT, but it sounds like those will be prioritized by this fall.

Want to know something else interesting? Cowan said he has a pretty strong relationship with the Hinton brothers out of Metro Atlanta. Chris Hinton Jr. is a 5-star defensive end in the class of 2019 verbally committed to Michigan.

Myles Hinton, the state’s top prospect in the class of 2020 per 247Sports, rates as the nation’s No. 2 tackle and as the No. 10 overall prospect in that cycle.

They got to know one another when Cowan and Chris played on the same AAU basketball team.

Local 2021 QB adds big Georgia offer

Brock Vandagriff. Go ahead and add that one to the list you of names will be reading about for a good long while.

The class of 2021 Prince Avenue Christian (Bogart, Ga.) quarterback picked up an offer from UGA on Tuesday. His first offer came from Miami back on April 30.

He’s already touching the 6-4 mark. Vandagriff also performed admirably at a recent Rivals camp, earning the MVP honor at that event.

Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. Georgia’s top 2019 prospects 2018 was a banner year for Georgia football in the NFL draft. The Dawgs had six players taken in the 2018 […]

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Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more.

Georgia’s top 2019 prospects

2018 was a banner year for Georgia football in the NFL draft. The Dawgs had six players taken in the 2018 NFL Draft — a school-record three going in the first round — which is tied for third-most from a single school alongside three others. Georgia is traditionally one of the top-performing programs in the NFL draft, and there’s no reason to expect that to slow down under coach Kirby Smart.

Although Georgia is unlikely to see three players selected in the first round again in 2019, there are still plenty of talented Dawgs who teams will be lining up to draft. A lot can and will change between now and next April, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take an early look at Georgia’s best potential draftees. In order, here are the players I consider to be UGA’s top 2019 NFL Draft prospects:

Deandre Baker, CB, Senior — Baker figures to be Georgia’s best prospect in the 2019 draft, as well as Georgia’s best corner prospect since Tim Jennings. If he is as dominant this season as he was last, there’s a good chance he’ll go off the board in the first round.

Tyler Clark, DT, Junior — Clark made larger strides than perhaps any other Georgia player last season and ended the year as one of the best on defense. He has all the size and athleticism you want from an NFL defensive lineman. If he progresses as much as a junior year as he did as a sophomore, I doubt he’ll stick around for a fourth year.

J.R. Reed, S, Redshirt junior — Reed plays with aggression, instincts and speed. He’s a missile in the secondary. On top of all that, his father played in the NFL. In all likelihood, he’ll be ready to make the jump next season.

D’Andre Walker, OLB, Senior — Walker led the team in sacks as a backup last season. It’s safe to say he has the pass-rushing aspect of his game down pat. More will be asked of him this season, but if he’s consistently proficient in coverage and against the run, he could be next in a growing line of Georgia linebackers to go high in the draft.

Jonathan Ledbetter, DE, Senior — Ledbetter considered jumping to the NFL after his junior season but decided to take one more season to refine his skills. If he can become a more adept pass rusher, his stock should go up this season.

Terry Godwin, WR, Senior — Aside from a few highlight-reel snags, Godwin has been steady but unspectacular in his first three seasons. But he’ll be a major target for Jake Fromm this season, giving him a good chance to raise his stock.

Isaac Nauta, TE, Junior — Nauta looked like a future star as a freshman but saw a huge dip in production as a sophomore, thanks to a diminished focus on tight ends in the passing game. That isn’t necessarily a negative, though. It’s allowed him to improve his blocking and become a more complete tight end. Regardless of production, he has all the measurables to play in the NFL.

Dawgs in the NFL

For your convenience, here’s a chart of showing where former Dawgs, drafted and undrafted, landed in the NFL.

PLAYER

TEAM

ROUND

PICK

Roquan Smith

Bears

1st

8th

Isaiah Wynn

Patriots

1st

23rd

Sony Michel

Patriots

1st

31st

Nick Chubb

Browns

2nd

35th

Lorenzo Carter

Giants

3rd

66th

Javon Wims

Bears

7th

224th

Trenton Thompson

Browns

UFA

N/A

John Atkins

Patriots

UFA

N/A

Davin Bellamy

Texans

UFA

N/A

Aaron Davis

Giants

UFA

N/A

David Marvin

Falcons

UFA

N/A

4-star ILB/ATH commits to Georgia

Last week was crazy busy for Georgia football in the recruiting department, but it did feature a perfect ending, a commitment from a top in-state prospect.

Four-star Clinch County inside linebacker/athlete Trezman Marshall went public with his pledge to the Bulldogs on Friday. He’s rated as the 98th-best prospect in the nation for the recruiting class of 2019 by 247Sports. According to Jeff Sentell of DawgNation, Marshall said he still plans to take all five of his official visits.

The chase is on. The UGA recruiting staff has some wood up ahead to chop. Alabama took the lead in the 2019 recruiting rankings earlier this week but lost it after an expected de-commitment. That allowed Oklahoma to regain the No. 1 ranking atop the 247Sports team composite rankings for this cycle. Georgia held the […]

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The chase is on. The UGA recruiting staff has some wood up ahead to chop.

Georgia held the No. 1 spot for a time earlier this year. Look for the Bulldogs to return to that spot. Then maybe Florida State, Clemson or Ohio State will get their laps in that pole position.

It also was a busy week for roster moves in Athens. Exports and imports. Flips. Misses. Hits. Unveilings.

That is the big picture. Georgia is permitted to have 85 players on scholarship at one time per NCAA rules. The Bulldogs signed 26 players in their top-rated 2018 class. There is the need to make the proverbial room in the inn for those guys.

UGA sits at No. 9 nationally in the 247Sports composite team recruiting rankings, but it is worth noting the program has just seven commits for this cycle. Ohio State, which ranks No. 16 nationally, has six commits. Georgia is the only team among the top 17 that has fewer than eight commitments.

Quick fact: Georgia has a trio of 5-star commits for this cycle. The Bulldogs also have as many 5-star pledges as the rest of the SEC combined.

Jadon Haselwood, a 5-star wide receiver (Cedar Grove H.S./Ellenwood, Ga.), rates as the top Georgia commit. He is the No. 5 overall player in the nation, according to the composite. Haselwood had been rated as the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect.

Broderick Jones committed to the Bulldogs twice earlier this year and revealed that decision to DawgNation earlier this week. The 4-star tackle drips with 5-star potential and rates on 247Sports as the nation’s No. 35 prospect for 2020.

Owen Pappoe will make his college choice on May 1. SEC Country will have live coverage beginning at 5:30 pm ET. Fans can watchon Facebook, on Twitterandon YouTube.

The nation’s No. 1 outside linebacker prospect was not at G-Day. He took a carefree official visit to Penn State last weekend and will travel to Texas for a similar jaunt this weekend. Those schools will not be a factor in his decision. It should come down to Auburn and Georgia. It is close — closer than most would expect.

Owen Pappoe will make his college decision on May 1. But you probably already knew that. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

Everyone knows how important this decision could be for the Bulldogs. Pappoe is one of the program’s biggest targets for 2019. His UGA offer from the previous staff in the summer of 2015.

Pappoe will make his choice at Sports and Social at 7 p.m. Tuesday near SunTrust Park in Smyrna. We’ve made it a point not to overcook the coverage on this story. He’s got a set date and he will make his choice.

It likely will come down to how each school’s major selling points match up with what Pappoe wants from his college career. There is a simple reason why the Bulldogs might not land Pappoe in a tug-of-war with Auburn. It may mean that he simply wants to get away from home to enjoy that “different world” type of experience.

The Bulldogs ripped off a string of 17 in a row in those forecasts prior to April 6. Auburn has received the last nine predictions.

UGA recruiting by position in 2019

Which positions are the major priorities for 2019? Well, the receiver spot was one, but that has been checked off as nicely as all the ticket sales for the new Avengers movie.

Here’s the wood left to chop in terms of positional priorities for the class:

Defensive tackle (3 or 4 more)

Inside linebacker (2)

Tackle (2)

Safety (1 to 2)

Quarterback (1)

Where UGA recruiting class ranks in SEC

Georgia’s 2019 class is ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 4 in the SEC. Texas A&M leads the conference at No. 2 nationally. Alabama is next in the conference with its nine verbals that rank No. 4 nationally.

Ole Miss comes in at No. 3 in the SEC and No. 5 overall off the strength of its 14 pledges in this cycle.

It is worth noting the Bulldogs had zero members — one if we count Adam Anderson, who de-committed and eventually re-committed — of their top-ranked 2018 class on the board at this time a year ago.

That class wound up No. 1 in the nation to break a seven-year run for Alabama at the top spot. Georgia will not sign as many prospects as it did in the 2018 class (26) and that might prevent it from defending that ranking in 2019.

Latest news on UGA recruiting

In case you missed anything from this week, here are the latest headlines:

ATHENS — Really, we don’t know all that much about Georgia’s Monty Rice. But you have to like what the sophomore linebacker has to say about the enormous challenge that’s before him and the Bulldogs’ entire defense in succeeding Roquan Smith and that star-studded unit of a season ago. “We can’t live off what Roquan […]

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ATHENS — Really, we don’t know all that much about Georgia’s Monty Rice. But you have to like what the sophomore linebacker has to say about the enormous challenge that’s before him and the Bulldogs’ entire defense in succeeding Roquan Smith and that star-studded unit of a season ago.

“We can’t live off what Roquan did, or Lorenzo [Carter] did, or Dom Sanders did,” said Rice, who is poised to follow Smith at the Will inside linebacker position. “What’s Juwan Taylor gonna do? What’s Nate McBride gonna do? What’s Monty Rice gonna do? We’ve got to live off what we’re going to do. We can’t dwell on last year’s success.”

Monty Rice

Truer words have not been spoken this spring about Georgia’s defense. The Bulldogs lost a boatload of exceptional football talent off last season’s 13-2, No. 2-ranked team. That fact will be underscored in the NFL draft next week.

Most notable among those departures is Smith. The Butkus Award-winning linebacker is expected to be an early first-round draft choice. The battle to replace him is ongoing. But the odds-on favorite to handle that considerable task is Rice, who is really kind of a mystery man.

If you don’t follow recruiting closely, you might need a refresher. Rice sort of just showed up at Georgia. Rivals and 247Sports pegged him as a 3-star recruit, but his offer list said otherwise. He had upwards of 20 offers, including pretty much the whole of the SEC.

Rice actually committed to LSU (over Auburn and Georgia) in mid-December 2016. It’s something he now says was an act of confused desperation. But, as an early enrollee, he’d long been pursued by Mel Tucker, first at Alabama and then as defensive coordinator at Georgia.

In the end, Rice pursued that relationship and simply enrolled at UGA without signing a letter of intent, according to his high school coach.

“When he announced that day that he was going to go to LSU, me and everyone else going in thought it was going to be Georgia, just because of his relationship with Coach Tucker and Coach [Kirby] Smart,” said Wade Waldrop, Rice’s coach at James Clemens High School in Madison, Ala. “They already knew him, because he had visited Alabama a number of times throughout his sophomore and junior years, so they were familiar with him.

“He came out right away and said, ‘I think I made a mistake.’ I said, ‘That’s all right. You haven’t signed a thing. As long as you let Coach [Dave] Aranda and Coach O [LSU coach Ed Oregeron] know, you do what’s best for you. You’ve got to wake up in that dorm room every day.’ ”

Said Rice: “I just followed my heart.”

Rice’s arrival in Athens in January 2017 has been a blessing both for the Bulldogs and for Rice. As a freshman last season he played in 14 of Georgia’s 15 games and even got a start against Missouri in the season’s seventh game. He finished with 22 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.

The one start came at Mike linebacker alongside Smith after Natrez Patrick was suspended and Reggie Carter was injured. But he primarily is a Will — or weakside linebacker — which happened to be the position manned by Smith. So it was difficult to get on the field much with the defense. His work came mostly at “garbage time” and on special teams.

But Rice said last season’s experience was invaluable to him, if for no other reason than getting to know Smith and watching how he worked.

“Roquan is not a selfish person,” Rice said. “He was helping me out when I first got here, telling me what calls I had to make, telling me what to do or whatever. So he was real helpful. So was Lorenzo and Davin [Bellamy] and all of those guys.”

As for motivation, Rice doesn’t need a lot of help in that department. This is a young man who has had his sights set not only on major college football but the NFL for a long time.

That’s what distinguished Rice at James Clemens High. Originally from Huntsville, Ala., he actually lived with another family in Madison while playing there.

The reason for that was two-fold. One, he wanted to play high school football at the highest level possible; and, two, he needed to escape the crime and poverty that ravaged the community in which he was raised.

That ended up being a move made in heaven. Not only was Rice wildly successful as a player — he recorded 137 tackles, 4 interceptions and 4 touchdowns to lead the Jets to the Class 7A quarterfinals as a senior — but also as a student.

“Monty Rice is a football player,” Waldrop said. “He came to school every day — and he had a 3.2, 3.1 GPA — and he did well in school because he wanted to play football. Everything he does is to play football. A lot of people, it’s the other way around. He did what he had to do on a daily basis to be a big-time football player. You didn’t have to hold things over his head to get him to do something. He loves playing football.”

It’s not all about money and fame for Rice, either. He hopes football can give him a platform to call attention to a cause that is very personal to him: excessive force used by police, particularly against victims suffering from mental illness.

You can read about it yourself from the pinned tweet at the top of Rice’s Twitter account, @RiceMonty. It takes you to a Facebook page dedicated to telling the story of Horaesheo Rice, a cousin eight years Rice’s senior who was killed by police gunfire on Sept. 20, 2017. That was the Wednesday before the Bulldogs would play Mississippi State in Sanford Stadium.

Rice has his cousin’s name tattooed on his right forearm as a reminder of what he’s playing for.

“I know he’s looking down and smiling about what I’m doing,” Rice said Thursday night after Georgia’s 13th practice of the spring. “We used to live together, so I was real close to him. I’m not a big social media guy, but I don’t want his name to ever be forgotten. I don’t want what happened to be, ah, this is just another killer. I want it to be known what happened to my cousin.”

At this point there’s still no guarantees that Rice will be the undisputed starter and/or primary player at Georgia’s all-important Will linebacker spot. Among others, he’s competing with senior Juwan Taylor and fellow sophomore Nate McBride, not to mention two freshmen who will join the team in June. But indications are that No. 32 has been making a name for himself at that spot during spring practice.

“He’s pretty difficult,” sophomore tackle Andrew Thomas said of trying to block Rice. “He has one speed. He’s, like, full-going all the time and he’s going to hit you. He doesn’t care if you’re bigger than him, he’s going to strike you and try to make a play. He’s making us all better.”

That this one-time 3-star prospect is in position to become a full-time starter at a marquee position in his sophomore year may come as a surprise to a lot of people. But not to those in Madison and Huntsville who have known Rice for a while.

“I’m absolutely not surprised, because he’s driven,” said Waldrop, who visited with Rice shortly before spring practice began. “He has a purpose. The purpose of just trying to start is probably big for him. He’s got NFL aspirations. He knows if he does the things that Coach Smart and Coach [Glenn] Schumann and those guys tell him to do and he buys into it, he knows he’ll have a shot to one day go get money.”

And perhaps draw greater attention to a cause that is dear to him. We’ll have to wait and see how it goes on the football field, but for now we have an idea of what Monty Rice is all about.

Welcome to a feature on DawgNation, where our writers answer (or try to answer) the best questions submitted by Georgia fans. If you’d like to submit a question, please e-mail us at ugaquestionoftheday@gmail.com. Look for the Question of the Day every Monday through Friday. Following DawgNation forum I have read numerous opinions on the issue […]

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Welcome to a feature on DawgNation, where our writers answer (or try to answer) the best questions submitted by Georgia fans. If you’d like to submit a question, please e-mail us at ugaquestionoftheday@gmail.com. Look for the Question of the Day every Monday through Friday.

Following DawgNation forum I have read numerous opinions on the issue of should Justin Fields redshirt?

Without knowing the NCAA rules on the matter my opinion is why not? Jake Fromm has proved to be formidable at quarterback and appears set to lead the Bulldogs for the next two years, at least. If Fields redshirts, he could potentially be backup one year with three remaining as starter, assuming he exhausts his eligibility, albeit unlikely.

Stetson Bennett is touted as an adequate backup, with a relatively soft schedule, should injury occur. It seems a reasonable plan to keep both quarterbacks happy and in Athens for the next four years.
— Mark Andrews

My hesitation always is to avoid saying something will never happen, lest I appear in a Freezing Cold Take. But I have very little expectation that Justin Fields will redshirt.

In a perfect world for Georgia football, if you could lay out everything perfectly over the next five years, then that plan works just fine. But that ideal world doesn’t exist.

Yes, there’s a chance the NCAA will pass a new redshirt rule, which would allow someone to redshirt even if they play four games (or fewer). Maybe that’s one way to thread the needle between getting someone experience and not burning a redshirt.

But if Fields is as good as advertised — and so far there’s no reason to think he’s not — then he won’t be the type of player to stick around for five years. There’s no reason to redshirt him and save that year if he’s likely to leave after his redshirt junior year anyway. Play him, get him experience, don’t save him for 2022 when chances are he won’t be around.

Georgia learned this the hard way with Knowshon Moreno, who left after his redshirt sophomore season. There are exceptions: Aaron Murray redshirted in 2009, then took over and was a four-year starter. D.J. Shockley redshirted in 2001, played behind David Greene for three years and then had his year in 2005. But those went against the norm.

Most teams don’t redshirt anymore, and about half of every quarterback who signs at the college level eventually transfers. It’s why Alabama, when it had Jalen Hurts as a sophomore, still played Tua Tagovailoa as a true freshman. And it was why Fromm was going to play last season, even if Jacob Eason hadn’t been injured.

Georgia has only two scholarship quarterbacks and Stetson Bennett may be a serviceable option. But if Georgia is chasing a championship — and it is the heavy favorite in the SEC East, at a minimum — then it wants Fromm or Fields behind center. And it wants Fields experienced.

Let’s say Georgia tries to redshirt Fields. If Georgia is playing in the SEC Championship Game and Fromm gets hurt, do you take your chances with a walk-on or do you throw Fields out there cold and inexperienced, having never played a college down? No, Georgia wants Fields to be ready, just as Tagovailoa was ready for Alabama.

I get the desire to map out Georgia’s quarterback situation for years to come, but it almost never plays out as expected. Look at Eason last season. My sense is the Fromm-Fields situation will sort itself out. Maybe not as quickly as Eason-Fromm did, but it will sort itself out.

Or maybe that eventually will be a Freezing Cold Take.

Have a question for beat writer Chip Towers? E-mail us at ugaquestionoftheday@gmail.com

]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-quarterbacks-justin-fields-redshirt-jake-fromm-bulldogs-spring-practice/feed0What was it like being around Georgia football for memorable 2017 season?https://www.dawgnation.com/football/2017-georgia-football-season-memories-rose-bowl-notre-dame
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/2017-georgia-football-season-memories-rose-bowl-notre-dame#respondWed, 11 Apr 2018 18:00:55 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=114587

Welcome to a feature on DawgNation, where our writers answer (or try to answer) the best questions submitted by Georgia fans. If you’d like to submit a question, please e-mail us at ugaquestionoftheday@gmail.com. Look for the Question of the Day every Monday through Friday. This is a little inside baseball, I suppose, but I wonder […]

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Welcome to a feature on DawgNation, where our writers answer (or try to answer) the best questions submitted by Georgia fans. If you’d like to submit a question, please e-mail us at ugaquestionoftheday@gmail.com. Look for the Question of the Day every Monday through Friday.

This is a little inside baseball, I suppose, but I wonder what the whole crazy thrill ride that was UGA football 2017 was like for you? We all know of the no-cheering-in-the-press-box rules, and how you’re supposed to be impartial – but did that work out? Were you disappointed in the results? Are you looking forward more than you have been to next year’s campaign? Since I think you get what I’m trying to ask, finally, have you, in fact, called the Dawgs at any point, even if only in your head?
– David

Thanks for the question, David, and I’m happy to briefly take you and anybody else interested behind the curtain. Someday I’ll probably write a book about my career (which I’m sure will be read by dozens of people) and the 2017 season probably will merit several chapters.

What was it like to cover it? On the one hand, at the risk of sounding ungracious, it was tiring. It literally was the longest football season in Georgia history, and my fellow beat writers and I were there to chronicle all of it, from the first day of practice on Aug. 1 to the aftermath of the National Championship Game on Jan. 8. That meant a lot of time away from the family, whether it was traveling or late nights at the Butts-Mehre — which isn’t to say I would have traded jobs with many people. I love what I do, and you get in the business to cover seasons like 2017.

There never will be another season quite like that one. Oh, there might be national championships, but Alabama fans and media members will tell you the first unexpected title run always holds a unique place in the hearts and minds of those who were there for it. There’s a joy that comes with the unexpected that turns to pressure in ensuing years. Last season had that joy, even if the ending was painful.

Throw in the fact that the season saw trips to Notre Dame and the Rose Bowl – in the same season – along with two championship games in Georgia’s own backyard, and 2017 will be almost impossible to beat when it comes to the memory bank.

It’s still important, and always is, to continue covering the team with an objective, honest approach. So yes, David, no cheering in the press box, or anywhere else. Fans may not like or understand that, but for reporters it’s what allows us to write and report on the team in a clear-headed manner, without agenda, and in the most honest way possible.

That said, it never hurts to cover a winner. Frankly, it’s what sells papers and gets people reading your stories. And when it comes to just experiencing cool things, winning seasons give you that. Especially ones like 2017.

My three favorite memories:

The moment Vince Dooley threw out the first pitch at the Cubs game. I was down on the field at Wrigley — a bucket list item itself — and was steps away from Dooley as he spoke for a couple minutes with Joe Maddon. Just a couple championship coaches talkin’ shop. I also knew there were more than a few Georgia fans at the game. But when it came time for the first pitch, and Dooley’s name began to be announced, there was a crescendo of roars from the crowd, a realization that Georgia fans had really taken over Wrigley Field that one night. I don’t like to use the term much, but that moment truly gave me chills.

The view at the Rose Bowl. I’ll be honest: The week leading up to the game wasn’t as fun as it could have been. I got sick the first two days I was there. There wasn’t much time to go sightseeing amid all the practices, and when I did go to Hollywood it was kinda … eh. I had some good dinners and the weather was nice, but overall it wasn’t an overwhelming experience. But the moment I arrived at the Rose Bowl, and saw the mountains over the horizon of the stadium, it was unlike any other locale I’ve taken in a game. And that continued as the game went on, watching the sun set over the mountains over the stadium, all while a game for the ages was being played. It was simply enthralling.

The postgame celebrations on the field at Notre Dame … and Atlanta … and Los Angeles … and for that matter Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Even if you’re an objective reporter doing his job, it’s impossible not to be taken in by the emotion around you. And there was a joy associated with this Georgia football team that was reflected in its celebrations, the way after those road games ended that players (and staff members) rushed to the stands to share the celebration with the many fans who had made the trip. Part of it was the personality of the team, reflected by Davin Bellamy, Lorenzo Carter, Jake Fromm and others. Part of it was the newness and unexpected nature of the whole season.

I’ll also always remember the final scene of the season, the atmosphere in the postgame locker room early on the morning of Jan. 9. The disgusted thwacking of helmets against lockers, players shaking their heads and shouting curse words, and players — such as Bellamy — patiently talking to the media about it all, standing up and taking a leadership role one last time.

This post probably could go on awhile, so I’ll stop here. I’ll have to save it for the book. And yes, David, I’m looking forward to the 2018 season, and futures ones, seeing if there’s some way they can top the last one. It’ll be hard.

Have a question for beat writers Chip Towers and Seth Emerson? E-mail us at ugaquestionoftheday@gmail.com

ATHENS — During the early part of practice, the Georgia offense takes up the left side of one field. This week a visitor might have seen James Coley using his high-pitched voice in the direction of the quarterbacks, Jim Chaney leaning down and barking at the tight ends, and Cortez Hankton throwing a huge black […]

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ATHENS — During the early part of practice, the Georgia offense takes up the left side of one field. This week a visitor might have seen James Coley using his high-pitched voice in the direction of the quarterbacks, Jim Chaney leaning down and barking at the tight ends, and Cortez Hankton throwing a huge black medicine ball at the ground for receivers to use practicing cut blocking.

Those are all changes from last year, Kirby Smart’s tinkering with the coaching staff that was part necessity, part opportunity.

Two events led to the changes: Coley being pursued by Texas A&M to be its offensive coordinator, and then-tight ends coach Shane Beamer leaving for Oklahoma. The result was a shuffling of job duties and the addition of Hankton, all of which Smart hopes improves an offense that already took a big step forward last season.

There are benefits to these changes. There are also risks.

When Georgia receiver Mecole Hardman was asked about Hankton, he first mentioned his new position coaches’ pedigree: He played receiver in the NFL, and it’s the only position he’s ever coached. He brings a technical expertise to the position.

New Georgia receivers coach Cortez Hankton. (Steve Colquitt/UGA)

“Coach Hank is a cool guy. A guy who’s been in the NFL. Knows what it takes to get there,” Hardman said. “He’s just giving his knowledge and experience to us to help us out and get us to the level we need to be at.”

Coley, after two years coaching Georgia’s receivers, is now back coaching quarterbacks, a position he has coached at the high school and pro levels.

“Coley is in a better spot where he’s at with the quarterbacks,” Hardman said.

Then there are the tight ends, who have seen a steady decrease in catches the last few years. Since Chaney is remaining the play-caller but taking over the tight ends, they’re hoping they will benefit.

“I would hope so, yeah. I think that’s definitely the anticipation in the room is we would get the ball a little more next year,” Georgia tight end Charlie Woerner said. “Maybe we can sweet talk him, bring some cookies in for him. He’ll get us the ball a little more next year.”

(Upon closer questioning, Woerner said he thinks Chaney is more of a McDonald’s and sweet tea guy.)

Joking aside, Woerner does think his talented unit — which also has Isaac Nauta and adds a couple four-star recruits this summer — will get more insight being around Chaney.

“It’s a little different,” Woerner said. “Coach Beamer was a great coach for us, but Chaney’s a little different. Obviously he’s the OC, so he knows the offense in and out better than anybody ever could because it’s his play-calling. And being in the room all the time with him is letting us get inside his head a little bit, too. Seeing what he’s going to do. Getting our minds a little bit more like the quarterbacks almost, you know what I mean, thinking like he would.”

But moving Chaney away from quarterbacks also has potential downsides. He’s done well coaching them in the past, from Drew Brees 20 years ago at Purdue to freshman Jake Fromm last year.

Smart doubtlessly considered that before he made the moves, which he said were part of a larger picture.

“You can always look at yourself and say, ‘How can I improve?’” Smart said. “I think we improved our staff tremendously by retaining one of our best recruiters and best coaches in James Coley while also bringing an unbelievable personality and great background in Cortez Hankton. He’s coached in our league, knows our league, has recruited in our league. All we want to do is make our staff better, and that’s the ultimate goal is to improve each year, and that’s what I think I’ve been able to do. So I’m excited about that.”

It’s also not that Chaney and Coley have completely forsaken their former units. There’s enough overlap during practice, whether it be team drills or passing drills, that receivers and quarterbacks are working together, that Coley and Chaney might be talking to their former guys.

And Chaney ultimately remains the man in charge of the offense. That hasn’t changed.

“Chaney’s the OC, so he’s with everybody. The receivers, the tight ends, the quarterbacks, at the end he’s going to have the overall say,” Hardman said. “But Chaney, he’s trusting Coley and Coach Hank to do their thing. I think Coach Chaney’s more laid-back now and just letting everything play itself out. That’s good, because he’s giving the quarterbacks and Coley to do more things that they can do.”

ATHENS — The week before Jake Fromm went to visit David Morris in Mobile, Ala., Eli Manning had come in and had some sessions with the renowned quarterback coach. So Morris’ perspective on good quarterback play is pretty strong. As founder of QB Country, Morris has also worked with AJ McCarron since the eighth grade […]

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ATHENS — The week before Jake Fromm went to visit David Morris in Mobile, Ala., Eli Manning had come in and had some sessions with the renowned quarterback coach. So Morris’ perspective on good quarterback play is pretty strong.

As founder of QB Country, Morris has also worked with AJ McCarron since the eighth grade and had various stings with Matt Barkley, Chad Kelly, Jacob Coker and some guy named Tebow. Tim I believe is his first name.

I reached out to Morris after I heard about Fromm using some of his spring break beach time to work out with Morris at QB Country. I was doing a story on Fromm’s offseason preparations for this season, so Morris seemed like a good guy to talk to.

Being a coach in demand like he is — Morris was traveling this week to help prepare Toledo’s Logan Woodside and Riley Ferguson of Memphis for their respective pro days — he didn’t get back to me in time to be included in that story. But Fromm and Morris go back a way, and his observations were such that I definitely wanted to share them with DawgNation readers.

First, a little background. They met when Fromm was just 15 years old.

“I met Jake, I think it was right after his freshman year (in high school) maybe,” Morris said. “He and his father kind of found me. They reached out, and we connected. They came to Mobile, and we just started working together. That’s kind of how our stuff works with most of our guys. Dads do their homework and figure out what makes sense.”

With those early interactions as a backdrop, Morris said he was not surprised to see Fromm have early success at Georgia. When he started working with Fromm, the kid was considered more of a baseball prospect that a football prospect. But Fromm had caught the eye of head coach Von Lassiter and quarterbacks coach Mike Chastain at Houston County High School. They, in turn, told Fromm’s father Emerson about Morris and his reputation for developing quarterbacks.

The next thing Fromm knew, he was on his way to Mobile.

“Coach Chastain reached out to me and said, ‘I’ve got a good one I’m going to send down to you,’ ” Morris said. “And I could see what he was talking about early on. When they’re that young, you’re thinking about things like, ‘is he mechanically sound, is he a big kid, can he make all the throws?’ Then you start projecting them out (as a prospect). Jake started getting a lot of attention that next year, his sophomore year. I think he got some offers about then. But early on, you could tell this kid had it.”

Since then, Fromm and Morris have gotten together to work as often as possible. Fromm would attend the QB Country camps whenever possible, then he would seek out individual instruction anytime his schedule would allow it.

It wasn’t real often, with Fromm living in another state. But that meant the visits were spread out just enough that Morris could distinctly see the progress that Fromm was making from semester to semester.

Morris gives Chastain and Lassiter most of the credit for Fromm’s development. He said he showed up at QB Country with a strong foundation of fundamentals and a surprisingly strong aptitude for offensive concepts.

“His ability to think fast goes back to high school,” Morris said. “He was well-coached by Coach Chastain and Coach Lassiter. Very honestly, those guys coached him up. It’s important to give those guys credit because he was a well-trained kid when he showed up. We focused more on footwork and arm position, things like that.”

Fromm’s training was on display for everyone to see as a true freshman last season. After incumbent starter Jacob Eason sustained a knee injury in Georgia’s first game, Fromm started the next 14 and helped lead the Bulldogs to an SEC championship and National Championship Game berth.

The national narrative on Fromm last season became that he was a game manager whose strongest contribution was to get the Bulldogs into good plays and out of bad ones. And he certainly was proficient in that regard.

But Morris believes Fromm is being sold short on his passing ability. Fromm completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 2,615 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. He threw 7 interceptions and also had 3 rushing TDs.

“He’s got plenty of arm strength,” Morris said. “The thing that he has that’s rare is his anticipation and touch. He’s very confident, too. As a result, you don’t see him late on throws very often. A lot of times, coming out of the gate, guys are late on throws because they’re nervous about making the wrong read. It seemed like he was on in that regard pretty much every game.”

Morris was asked if he was trying to help Fromm gain velocity on his throws.

“I would say he has plenty of arm,” Morris said. “He actually has a strong arm. He doesn’t have the Josh Allen arm where he can throw it 70 yards, but you don’t need to do that. And Josh Allen struggles with accuracy. Josh would like to have the accuracy Jake’s got. Jake has anticipation, touch, arm strength and accuracy. So, yeah, I’d say he’s ahead of his time on all that stuff. But I’d say the most important thing is he’s got confidence.”

Like Eason last year, Fromm is wearing the hat as incumbent starter. But he can’t rest on his laurels. Georgia signed Justin Fields — the No. 1-rated dual-threat quarterback in America — to provide much-needed depth and compete with Fromm.

Morris is actually quite familiar with Fields, too. Though the Kennesaw, Ga., native and Harrison High School standout has worked with Ron Veal as his personal quarterbacks coach since the sixth grade, Fields has actually had some sessions with Morris over the years at various camps.

“I worked him out at the Rivals Camp last year,” Morris said. “He and the kid from Clemson (Trevor Lawrence) were there as well as (Marietta 2020 prospect) Harrison Bailey and some other guys. (Fields is) impressive. He’s a physically gifted guy that can throw it. I don’t know much more about him other than that, that he can really throw the ball.”

Morris doesn’t have an opinion on the quarterback competition at Georgia, or whether it’s real or imagined. But he did say that he knows from experience that Fromm will be very difficult to run down from behind.

Morris noted that Fromm’s constant and steady improvement has been uncanny to watch. That, and his physical growth.

“Obviously, they’ve got a great weight program at Georgia,” Morris said with a laugh. “Jake’s 6-[foot-]2 and he’s a strong kid. I want to say he was 222, 225 when he was here, but it’s good weight. He’s got some tree trunks for legs. He doesn’t look too big to me, but I think that’s probably where he wants to stay. The one thing I always preach to him about being strong like that is that he has to maintain flexibility. You can tell early on in a workout if a kid has been paying attention to his flexibility because a lot of guys who work out too much get too stiff. They can’t turn their elbow over and it turns into a violent throw. I thought Jake still looked fluid and flexible. We spent a lot of time making sure he was as loose as he needs to be.”

Morris said he spent two full days with Fromm in Mobile. Two other days, Fromm went to the beach.

“He threw great,” Morris said. “I’m always challenging him on his feet, his release speed and speed in general. Those are big things for him. As far as physical traits, though, he looks like an NFL guy right now.”

ATHENS — Georgia’s signing of basketball coach Tom Crean to a six-year, $19.2 million contract last week made a statement. And the Bulldogs are about to make another statement when it locks down Kirby Smart as their football coach for the foreseeable future. The question is, what will that statement be? At the moment, Smart […]

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ATHENS — Georgia’s signing of basketball coach Tom Crean to a six-year, $19.2 million contract last week made a statement. And the Bulldogs are about to make another statement when it locks down Kirby Smart as their football coach for the foreseeable future.

The question is, what will that statement be?

At the moment, Smart is set to earn only a half-million dollars more than Crean annually. That won’t last. The fiscal year ends June 30, and by then, Smart figures to be making twice that.

The exact salary the 42-year-old Smart ends up getting from UGA remains to be seen. Athletic director Greg McGarity has declined to discuss it. But whatever the Bulldogs end up doing could be enlightening when it comes their current mindset with regard to their football program.

Suffice it to say, it’s a very, very good time to be a successful football coach. Actually, it’s a good time even to be a bad coach if you’re at a Power 5 school — and in the SEC in particular. You might have noticed that a lot of money has been pouring into — and out of — the league in which Georgia competes.

Last year, the SEC generated $596.9 million in revenue, distributing approximately $40.9 million to each of its 14 members. Most of that, or a lot of that, is a result of the conference’s TV arrangement with ESPN.

Being amateur athletics and all, the SEC’s member institutions can’t pass on that windfall to the players — I mean student-athletes — who provide the labor and the entertainment responsible for generating all that income. So, after funding their non-revenue sports and sending some funds the universities’ way, the schools generally invest the proceeds into facilities and coaches.

As a result, we’ve seen SEC coaches start banking some serious green.

Believe it or not, Alabama’s Nick Saban is not even the league’s highest-paid coach anymore. Well, not technically.

According to USA Today’s latest report, Saban currently earns $6.94 million annually. That’s actually less than the salaries that new Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher ($7.5 million) and old Auburn coach Gus Malzahn ($7 million) are due to pull in based on new contracts.

But when “completion bonuses” and “talent fees” are factored in — and I’m pretty sure the IRS counts those — Saban was due to earn $11.125 million this last year. And that was before winning another national championship, which I assume would generate some kind of bonus.

And that’s where Smart made out pretty well in 2017-18. What he may have lacked in guaranteed salary, he made up for in incentives.

Smart is due to receive an additional $800,000 from the Bulldogs’ run through the SEC championship and into the College Football Playoff Championship Game based on the bonus structure in the contract he received from Georgia in 2016. Had Georgia won that final game rather than suffer that excruciating overtime loss, Smart would have made an additional $400,000. As it was, his assistant coaches made more than $800,000 in additional bonuses based on the team’s success last season.

And that’s the way McGarity likes it for Georgia’s coaches. He prefers that their contracts be incentive-based. Or, at least, he used to.

Smart is expected to receive a new deal from UGA as a result of the SEC championship and playoff run last season. He has to, really, just based on what has been going on in the market.

Texas A&M hired Fisher away from Florida State after firing Kevin Sumlin and immediately made him the highest-paid coach in the league. Malzahn, who lost to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, received a seven-year, $49 million deal shortly after that loss. Dan Mullen went from Mississippi State to Florida and now makes $6.1 million a year. Tennessee hired Jeremy Pruitt from Alabama and he’s due to draw a $4 million salary from the Vols.

And just like that, they all make more than Smart ($3.75 million). Now what?

Traditionally, Georgia hasn’t been known to pay anybody the most to do anything, and I doubt that will be the case here. Certainly, heading into just his third season as the Bulldogs’ head coach, Smart remains a junior executive in relation to his top-earning peers

But Georgia made a statement when it trotted out $3.2 million-a-year contracts — the second-most lucrative to Kentucky’s John Calipari — in front of Thad Matta and Crean to coach the basketball team. And I expect the Bulldogs will make a statement here with football, too.

Georgia can’t, won’t and probably shouldn’t pay Smart on the scale that Alabama pays Saban. And he doesn’t have the experience that Fisher or Malzahn or even Mullen do. But he did something this past season only Malzahn has done when he won the SEC. And he just about won it all after that.

More important, though, is where Georgia sees itself in the SEC football hierarchy. That’s why Auburn continues to dump truckloads of cash at Malzahn’s door. That’s why Florida doled out so much to get Mullen to leave Starkville. Sure, markets and resumes dictate salaries to a degree, but it’s also about these football programs staking a claim to their status in the SEC and college football.

Will Georgia stake a football claim with Smart? What it just did in basketball indicates it probably will. If so, the Bulldogs will have their first Six Million Dollar Man.

It’s never a bad thing to have an NBA legend such as Dwyane Wade in your corner, and Georgia will get to experience that first-hand. Wade, who played for new Georgia coach Tom Crean at Marquette in the early 2000s, tweeted a show of support for the new hire on Saturday. I’m so happy for […]

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It’s never a bad thing to have an NBA legend such as Dwyane Wade in your corner, and Georgia will get to experience that first-hand.

Wade, who played for new Georgia coach Tom Crean at Marquette in the early 2000s, tweeted a show of support for the new hire on Saturday.

I’m so happy for my Coach, Mentor,Father Figure and Friend @TomCrean on his new position with @UGABasketball ….The Wade’s are now proud supporters of the Bulldogs!!! Knowing what i know the community of Georgia better strap in because it’s gonna be a helluva ride!

Crean recruited and helped develop Wade into one of the best shooting guards in NBA history and a three-time NBA champion. He had a good college career, too, averaging better than 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the Golden Eagles during his final season.

Crean also sent a bit of praise back toward Wade on Saturday:

I’ll recruit and hold people accountable to the standards you helped me develop and continue to live out everyday!! You are what humility, confidence, compassion and competitiveness look like !!! https://t.co/nVWlUl0CoX

At his introductory press conference, Crean shed some light on what kind of team he hopes to run in Athens.

“We’re going to shoot the 3,” he said. “We’re not going to lead the country in attempts. But I certainly hope we can lead the country in percentage.

“There is no question that there is talent, and there is versatility and there’s a lot of youth inside of this program,” Crean said. “They defend, and they know how to run offense, they move the ball. I mean they’ve been well-coached. C’mon, I could go down the line, there’s no doubt about that.”

ATHENS – If you haven’t been paying attention to that other basketball program on the UGA campus, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Yes, the Lady Dogs are winning a lot of games and they’re hosting an NCAA Tournament regional. All that’s good and has been done before. What’s different about Georgia women’s basketball is who’s […]

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ATHENS – If you haven’t been paying attention to that other basketball program on the UGA campus, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Yes, the Lady Dogs are winning a lot of games and they’re hosting an NCAA Tournament regional. All that’s good and has been done before.

What’s different about Georgia women’s basketball is who’s leading it.

Certainly, by now you’ve heard the name Joni Taylor. If you haven’t, write it down so you remember it.

It’s understandable if you’re a little unclear. She used to be Joni Crenshaw, then she got married, and for a minute she went by the hyphenated name of Joni Crenshaw-Taylor. But now she’s just Joni Taylor. Or, more to the point, Coach Taylor, wife, mother, college basketball coach.

And she’s got it going on. A former Alabama player and assistant coach for Georgia legend Andy Landers, Taylor is just starting to hit her stride in her chosen profession. The Bulldogs are 26-6 in her third season, and all the losses came against top 25 teams, most of them top 10.

Yes, the Lady Dogs had to fight tooth-and-nail for their first-round victory Saturday. That was predictable. The 68-63 win came over a Mercer team that Georgia beat by 18 in Macon earlier this season. But that was one of just two losses the Bears (31-3) suffered before the NCAA Tournament, and this was the Super Bowl for them. They brought a huge contingent from Macon and their group was considerably more vocal and invested in the proceedings.

Georgia politely endured the visitors’ hustle and controlled desperation, but then matter-of-factly converted in the low post and at the foul line to make sure the little-sister program always remained behind on the scoreboard. It got frightfully close for a few minutes – one skinny point separated them with 3 minutes, 26 seconds to play.

But the Bulldogs had the bigger, better players and knew it. Forwards Caliya Robinson and Mackenzie Engram each had double-doubles, the former with 23 points and 16 rebounds, the latter with 21-10. And so the threat was fairly painlessly averted.

And that’s due in no small part to Taylor. As an assistant, she helped beat back outside sources in preventing the Georgia natives from leaving the state, and as head coach she’s charged with developing them.

Taylor is a multi-tool leader. She’s young (39) and has experienced being a female student-athlete on a big campus. She’s been around long enough to have learned from some of the best at Louisiana Tech, Alabama, LSU and Georgia. And she’s driven enough to have gone not only after this job but everything else she wants in life.

She married Darius Taylor, then an assistant coach with the South Carolina women’s program, in August 2015. They had their first child, Jacie Elsie, in November 2016. That came on the heels of being named National Rookie Coach of the Year for her work during the 2015-16 season (21-10).

And Saturday afternoon, Taylor ran down another milestone. She notched her first NCAA Tournament victory.

“I think more than anything it shows our young ladies that anything’s possible,” Taylor said of her life choices. “You can have a great career, you can be married, you can have a family, you can do whatever you choose to do. You can have it all.”

The tourney win was another hurdle Taylor needed to clear, but her eyes remain focused well down the track. The stated goal has always been to get Georgia back where it belongs and maybe beyond. That would be where Landers once had the Lady Dogs, playing in some Final Fours and always contending for championships.

Mississippi State and South Carolina were the first to step into the void left by Tennessee, but they all feel Georgia and Taylor closing ground. Taylor has the goods, and she has the people, place and means to make things happen.

“I’ve been impressed with what she has done as head coach,” said Gardner, who played on Final Four teams with Georgia and coached for Landers. “We’ve played them a lot and I obviously follow them closely. At times it felt like there was a lack of passion. I was thinking, ‘Where is the emotion?’ It seems like she’s brought that back, and it’s good to see.”

Georgia is not there yet. Both the Lady Dogs and Taylor remain a work in progress. No. 18 Duke (23-8) is up next and, regardless of which team wins, that behemoth known as UConn awaits after that.

The Bulldogs probably aren’t ready to slay that dragon yet. But they’ve eclipsed 25 wins for the first time since 2006-07, and industry experts say Taylor is coaching and recruiting at a level that should see Georgia go up from here.

After the game Saturday, people kept coming up and congratulating Taylor on her first tourney victory. The look on her face said she wasn’t sure what the fuss was about.

Taylor was totally in survive-and-advance mode, and you can tell she plans on bagging a lot more of these.

“[Assistant coach Robert] Mosely is always telling me to stop and enjoy the moments because my mind is always on the next thing, then the next thing, next thing, next thing. But it is a special thing,” Taylor said.

What do you say we move away from this basketball coaching search drama and talk some Georgia football? We are now five days from the start of spring football practice. Barring any unforeseen player drama that takes place during the ongoing spring break — yes, praying is allowed on these matters — the latest version […]

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What do you say we move away from this basketball coaching search drama and talk some Georgia football?

We are now five days from the start of spring football practice. Barring any unforeseen player drama that takes place during the ongoing spring break — yes, praying is allowed on these matters — the latest version of the Bulldogs will trot out onto Woodruff Practice Fields to give us a glimpse of what’s to come in 2018.

These four seemed to have a blast after deciding to return to Georgia for their senior seasons. (File photo)

In the meantime, it’s our last opportunity to talk about what just happened in 2017. The Bulldogs are coming off their best season in 15 years. We’re almost exactly two months removed from the end of that 13-2 season, which saw Georgia suffer an excruciatingly close loss to Alabama in the National Championship Game.

But there was much to celebrate about what many believe to be an extremely special season for the Bulldogs. There was an SEC championship, a national runner-up finish and more exciting moments than one fan base could stand. And there were five players, in particular, who had everything in the world with doing that.

So we’ll be doing just that, celebrating Georgia’s 2017 accomplishments and saying thanks both to the players who created many of those exciting moments and the DawgNation readers who were with them every step of the way. DawgNation Appreciation is Thursday from 6-9 p.m. at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Battery Park in Atlanta.

David Greene, David Pollack, Thomas Davis and Terrence Edwards will forever be remembered for what they did for Georgia in 2002. And 15 years later, the same can be said of Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Roquan Smith, Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter. Chubb, Michel and Smith will be signing autographs and taking part in a special DawgNation panel discussion. Bellamy also will be there and will be selling his popular Humble Yourself apparel, and Carter will be signing autographs and talking and taking pictures with fans as well.

It’s funny, Bellamy and Carter weren’t originally on the docket. But seeing the first tweets about the upcoming event, the two senior members of Georgia’s famous Wolf Pack of outside linebackers tweeted sarcastic replies to each other about being the players responsible for the two of the most pivotal defensive plays and not being included. Well, they are now, and rightly so!

A limited number of premium tickets are still available. Doors open at 6 p.m. but you’re encouraged to get there early to queue up in the autograph lines and sign up for giveaways. There will be a cash bar, food will be available and there are all kinds of giveaways, including tickets to Georgia home football games.

I’m just excited about catching up with these beloved Bulldogs one more time and asking them about all those crazy things that happened and the behind-the-scenes details we may have missed to this point. So much happened during that last month, between the SEC Championship Game, the Rose Bowl victory over Oklahoma and that harrowing loss in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Since then, these guys have been busy readying themselves for the NFL draft and their impending professional careers. They’ve only recently come from the NFL combine, and next Wednesday they’ll show off their wares for coaches, scouts and executives at Georgia’s pro day on the UGA campus. So they really haven’t had much of a chance to reflect and reminisce. This will be their best chance for that, and we’re excited to be able to bring it to you.

In the meantime, I can’t wait to hear from these guys about the upcoming season. There is a lot of excitement surrounding the 2018 Bulldogs, and that’s based mostly on what happened in 2017. The Bulldogs return much of the offense but will have to rebuild most of the defense. It’ll be interesting to hear some insights from the core group of leaders that coach Kirby Smart gave so much credit for the magical run that was last season.

Getting back into the playoff is the stated goal of the new group as well. The first steps to that end already have been taken during offseason strength and conditioning, and they’ll get under way in earnest with 15 spring practice dates, starting Tuesday and ending with the G-Day Game on April 21 (4 p.m., ESPN).

There’s still plenty of time to get into all that. But first, let’s say thanks one more time too the greatest group of Bulldogs to come together in awhile. See y’all there.

ATHENS – The Georgia basketball program has won just seven NCAA Tournament games in its history. Tom Crean has won more than that by himself. The same was true of Thad Matta, the former Ohio State coach who turned down Georgia’s offer on Wednesday. All indications are that UGA moved on quickly to Crean, the […]

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ATHENS – The Georgia basketball program has won just seven NCAA Tournament games in its history. Tom Crean has won more than that by himself.

The same was true of Thad Matta, the former Ohio State coach who turned down Georgia’s offer on Wednesday. All indications are that UGA moved on quickly to Crean, the former Indiana coach who appears genuinely interested in the job.

Crean was set to meet with Georgia officials on Thursday, an industry source confirmed. If the meeting goes well, things could move swiftly.

Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity as well as UGA president Jere Morehead are both at the meeting, one person familiar with the search said.

Georgia offered Matta a five-year deal worth at least $3.2 million annually, according to people familiar with the offer, and it figures that Crean would get something on par with that deal. Indiana was paying Crean an annual salary of $3.1 million entering the 2015-16 season, his second to last at Indiana. Crean received a $4 million buyout when he was fired last year.

Crean was first contacted by Georgia representatives last Saturday, after the firing of Mark Fox. That was the only contact for a few days while Georgia pursued Matta. But attention then turned to Crean, who apparently was not fazed by not being the first choice.

Pittsburgh has interviewed Crean, and the Louisville and UConn jobs are open. After a year away from coaching, and working as an ESPN analyst, it appears that Crean is motivated to coach again, and the Georgia job intrigues him.

If Georgia hires Crean, it would continue a trend of SEC schools hiring experienced coaches. Six of the league’s last 10 hires have been coaches with power-conference head-coaching experience.

“I think that’s what caused the rejuvenation of this league. We had some good coaches. And we added some good coaches,” said Mike Tranghese, the former Big East commissioner who is an adviser to the SEC on basketball. “Georgia’s a challenging job, but I think all the jobs in this league are challenging because the competition is getting tough. But it has great facilities, and great fans, and has a lot of great players in the area.”

Tranghese said he has followed the Georgia search “pretty closely” and has spoken with McGarity. He said he also knows Crean well. But Tranghese didn’t want to talk about specific candidates, letting the process play out.

Crean has a long record as a head coach, first at Marquette – where he took the team to the Final Four in 2003 – and then at Indiana, where he took over amid NCAA sanctions. The Hoosiers struggled in Crean’s first three seasons before making Sweet 16 trips in 2012 and 2013, and again in 2016. But Indiana went 18-16 last season and Crean was let go.

Crean, who will turn 52 next week, was born in Michigan and has spent his entire coaching career outside of the Southeast. Tranghese, speaking generally, indicated that shouldn’t be a disqualifier.

“In a perfect world you get someone who knows your area. But if the person isn’t a good recruiter it doesn’t do any good,” Tranghese said. “I still think it’s got to be a good fit. The guy’s got to be able to coach, he’s got to be able to recruit. I think the guys that Greg is looking at can do both.”

While Crean is now the focus of Georgia’s search, at least publicly, it does appear other coaches at least remain on the radar.

Earl Grant, the 41-year-old coach at College of Charleston, could be discussed once his team is done playing. Charleston plays Auburn on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Texas coach Shaka Smart, 40, has been mentioned as a possibility the last couple days. But Gary Parrish of CBS Sports reported Thursday afternoon that Smart and Xavier coach Chris Mack both “politely declined” overtures from the search firm being used by Georgia.

There is sentiment among Georgia boosters for bringing back Tubby Smith, with Jonas Hayes as a top assistant and heir apparent. However, that option apparently hasn’t gained traction with the administration.

If Georgia wants to put itself on the college basketball map, reaching for former Louisville coach Rick Pitino would be one way to do it. His name is being mentioned for the Bulldogs job that became vacant on Saturday with the dismissal of Mark Fox, according to ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams. While Pitino’s success […]

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If Georgia wants to put itself on the college basketball map, reaching for former Louisville coach Rick Pitino would be one way to do it. His name is being mentioned for the Bulldogs job that became vacant on Saturday with the dismissal of Mark Fox, according to ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams.

While Pitino’s success on the court speaks for itself, this could be seen as an extremely risky hire after he was fired from Louisville due to, among many things, the payment of recruits and hiring of prostitutes to entertain prospects. Pitino has vehemently fought against the allegations for his firing that occurred in October 2017 after a unanimous vote by the school’s board of directors.

Considering how close it is to his ouster and the scandal, Georgia would probably take a big public relations hit if Pitino was hired, but the program would gain a coach that has led two teams (Kentucky and Louisville) to national titles and three schools (Providence) to the Final Four.

ATHENS — There was a problem. It was a few years ago, when my son was just over a year old, and Mark Fox and Georgia had a scheduled media availability. I have to watch my kid, I told a team official, so I can’t come. “Just bring him,” he replied, not hesitating. Fox won’t […]

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ATHENS — There was a problem. It was a few years ago, when my son was just over a year old, and Mark Fox and Georgia had a scheduled media availability. I have to watch my kid, I told a team official, so I can’t come.

“Just bring him,” he replied, not hesitating.

Fox won’t mind?

“Nah,” came the answer.

A few hours later, there I was, with a stroller and a 1-year-old boy, and after interviewing Charles Mann with my son on my lap, I proceeded to a session with Fox, still holding my boy in one hand and a tape recorder in the other hand. Fox saw my son, smiled and briefly rubbed his cheek.

“I remember those days,” said Fox, a father of two, who then proceeded to take our questions about … well, who knows who the opponent was.

The following is not to say that Georgia should have retained Fox just because he was a good guy and let me bring my son to a media session. Frankly, after nine years and just two NCAA Tournament appearances, and zero wins in that tournament, it was apparent that a change was appropriate. A new voice and a fresh approach are certainly warranted.

It’s also not a cause for celebration. When a coaching change is made, it affects the careers and families of not only a head coach, but also assistant coaches, staff members and plenty of people who are paid considerably less than the head coach.

This is a side that the public rarely sees. Two years ago, while covering the dismissal of football coach Mark Richt, I got a voicemail from a staff member who was still obviously shell-shocked and unsure of his future.

“I’m just going to work,” the staffer said. “That’s all I know what to do.”

Ten years ago, while covering the somewhat-forced retirement of Dave Odom as the basketball coach at South Carolina, I ran into two of his staffers who were drinking a couple of strong ones at a local establishment, still digesting the news and unpacking what it meant for their futures. One of them saw me, shook his head and made clear he didn’t want to see a reporter.

“C’mon, Seth, this has already been a hard enough day,” he said.

I’m quoting him accurately, as those words have stuck with me for a decade.

Let’s be clear: This is the business all of them chose. They knew this kind of sudden upheaval was a part of it. And many of them, especially Fox, are well-compensated. That means you should be able to buy some thick skin.

There is another side to all of this, however, which is why many of us have a hard time celebrating when something like this happens. Was Fox a good coach? Debate if you want. Was it time for Georgia to make a change? Most would say yes.

Mark Fox dressed up as a member of the UGA spike squad for several football games. (Caitlyn Stroh/file photo)

Did Fox represent Georgia with class for nine years? That appears inarguable.

His players graduated. He ran a clean program. His players rarely appeared in the police blotter. He was generally a good ambassador for the program, whether it was schmoozing with boosters, dealing out quotes to media members or doling out advice to former players.

A few years ago, while meaning to direct message, Fox accidentally tweeted the advice he was giving to Jeremy Price, who was dealing with a coach on an overseas team who was giving him trouble. The advice was standard (just put up with it as long as you can and then move on), but it was notable that a former player, whom Fox hadn’t recruited, was seeking his advice.

Were there some players Fox wasn’t on good terms with? Probably. Did he get along with everyone in Athens? Probably not. Fox also sometimes had a tendency to play up things for drama, whether it was injuries to players, the clock fiasco last year at Texas A&M or the FBI investigation into college basketball corruption this year. Not that he’s the first coach to play things up.

As someone who covered Fox for eight of his nine years, the impression he left as a person was a good one. We had more than a few conversations that weren’t even about basketball. A few times I’ve found myself giving new parents advice about day care I received from another father, without telling the source of the advice was Mark Fox.

Fox also “got” Georgia, as one fan put it on Twitter. He knew the place of basketball here and was never resentful about it. He embraced it. He dressed up as a member of the spike squad for football games. He was in the stands at Wrigley Field last fall when Vince Dooley threw out the first pitch and didn’t advertise it. He just showed up.

Fox may well move on to another job now. He may serve as a TV analyst for a year or two, turn up as an assistant somewhere or take over a mid-major program. A few people have even suggested him as a candidate to be Georgia’s next athletic director. (Someone good with boosters who could help raise money? Check. A coach who would know intimately what Georgia coaches need to be successful? Check.)

We’ll see what future awaits for Fox and his staff. He will surely do just fine. It’s too bad it didn’t work out well for him in the end at Georgia. But there were good times, he leaves the program better than he found it and he leaves with his reputation intact.

ST. LOUIS – When Mike Anderson got the question – what was his reaction to Georgia firing Mark Fox? – it was evident that Anderson didn’t know yet. Neither did his wife, Marcheita Anderson, sitting a few feet away, who groaned, closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, frowning. “I’m sorry to hear […]

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ST. LOUIS – When Mike Anderson got the question – what was his reaction to Georgia firing Mark Fox? – it was evident that Anderson didn’t know yet. Neither did his wife, Marcheita Anderson, sitting a few feet away, who groaned, closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, frowning.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Mike Anderson, who as Arkansas coach has been in the SEC for seven of the nine years that Fox was at Georgia. “Mark’s a very good friend. And his wife. I wish him the best. Great coach. And he’ll still be coaching somewhere.”

That was the prevailing sentiment at the SEC Tournament upon hearing the news of Fox being let go. There was not much anger – Fox had been at Georgia a long time, after all – but there was sadness. Fox seemed to enjoy universal respect from his peers, both as a coach and as a person.

But everyone also understood that it’s a business.

“Sad. I’ve been there,” said Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, who was fired by Texas three years ago. “I don’t think he’s through coaching. He’d be a gem for anybody. One, he’s a terrific coach and a great man. I love everything he stands for. I think that anybody that would have him that would be a feather in their cap, really.

“I understand it, he’d been there a long time and all that. In today’s basketball I’m not sure guys are going to be able to stay there longer. But he was there what, eight or nine years? He should be proud of the fact he did it the right way, he brought a lot of dignity with the way he did it. And I can tell you he’s just a terrific basketball coach, and I think a better person.”

Alabama coach Avery Johnson had also not heard of Fox’s firing when he was asked about it on Saturday afternoon.

“Good man. Good coach. Yeah, very disappointing,” said Johnson, who has Alabama poised to get an NCAA Tournament bid in his third year at the school. “When you come into the SEC like I did three years ago, even though we all try to win recruiting battles and we want to win on the floor, there’s a little bit of a brotherhood with the coaches. …

“I’m disappointed for Mark, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back. I’m sure he’ll bounce back because he’s a good man and he’s a really good basketball coach.”

Kentucky coach John Calipari wasn’t asked about Fox on Saturday, but he’s made his feelings clear in the past, including on Friday. After Kentucky beat Georgia on Friday in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, Calipari said he told Fox before the game he wouldn’t mind if Georgia won the game and put an end to the speculation about his job. Even last year, when there was also speculation about Fox’ future, Calipari went on an unprompted rant after a game at Stegeman Coliseum.

Calipari was hired by Kentucky a day before Fox was hired by Georgia in 2009. They took over diametrically different programs, with very different expectations, but both were taking over for coaches who had been fired.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on out there, stuff that’s not going on at Georgia,” Calipari said on Friday, saying he hoped UGA’s administration realized that and kept Fox.

But a decision had apparently already been reached and was confirmed on Saturday. Now Georgia has an opening.

Anderson was asked what kind of job he thought Georgia is.

“Georgia obviously in the SEC and a state that’s loaded with players year in and year out, it’s a good job,” Anderson said. “But sorry to hear that news on Mark.”

It’s time to party with some of your favorite UGA stars, DawgNation. Can’t get enough Georgia football? Still smiling about the Bulldogs’ historic 2017 season? Do memories of an SEC championship and a Rose Bowl title make these winter months feel a little warmer? Then you won’t want to miss DawgNation Appreciation 2018 on March 15, when Georgia’s remarkable ride […]

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It’s time to party with some of your favorite UGA stars, DawgNation.

Can’t get enough Georgia football? Still smiling about the Bulldogs’ historic 2017 season? Do memories of an SEC championship and a Rose Bowl title make these winter months feel a little warmer?

Then you won’t want to miss DawgNation Appreciation 2018 on March 15, when Georgia’s remarkable ride to the National Championship Game will be celebrated. Three stars from the 2017 team ― running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel and linebacker Roquan Smith ― will be present to fill in fans about behind-the-scenes stories, personal reflections and other juicy details regarding one of the most riveting runs in Bulldogs history.

Sounds amazing, right?

DawgNation Appreciation 2018 will happen at the Coca-Cola Roxy. TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW, and there are three tiers involved. Early access to purchasing will only go to newsletter subscribers, and limited quantities of VIP tickets are available.

VIP – $199 plus taxes and fees: Includes a DawgNation gift, access to the program with the players, autographs from all three players, a photo with all three players, along with drink tickets and light buffet.

Premium Pass – $99 plus taxes and fees: Includes a DawgNation gift, access to the program with the players, one player autograph selected by DawgNation, along with a cash bar and food for sale.

General admission – $48 plus taxes and fees: Includes a DawgNation gift and access to the program.

No personal items for autographs will be allowed. Instead, all autographs will be on a DawgNation branded photo. No redistribution or outside media will be permitted without prior written approval by Cox Media Group. For media inquiries, please email DawgNationevents@gmail.com.

ATHENS — Sometimes teams have a great quarterback with nobody else to speak of playing behind him. Sometimes teams have no idea whether they have a decent quarterback and need somebody to distinguish himself. And, ever so rarely, sometimes teams have two great quarterbacks. The Georgia Bulldogs believe they fall in the last category. But […]

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ATHENS — Sometimes teams have a great quarterback with nobody else to speak of playing behind him. Sometimes teams have no idea whether they have a decent quarterback and need somebody to distinguish himself. And, ever so rarely, sometimes teams have two great quarterbacks.

The Georgia Bulldogs believe they fall in the last category. But no matter what a team’s particular scenario is at football’s most important position, you’re usually going to hear the head coach say they have an “open competition.”

The question is whether it’s real or imagined.

Sophomore Jake Fromm will be difficult to unseat as starting quarterback with the experience and knowledge he attained starting 14 games as a freshman. (Nate Gettleman/DawgNation)

“To start with, competition, as we know, is good for business no matter what field you’re in,” said Vince Dooley, who oversaw several quarterback competitions in 25 years as Georgia’s coach. “It’s not just athletics. Whatever endeavor, competition is good for everybody, and that’s certainly true of quarterbacks.”

Georgia coach Kirby Smart is sure to say there will be a quarterback competition heading into spring practice, which starts in two weeks. The Bulldogs feature a returning starter in Jake Fromm who won 13 games a year ago and led UGA to an SEC championship and National Championship Game berth. But, by all accounts, he’ll have to beat out freshman Justin Fields to keep his job as starting quarterback.

That was how Smart framed the quarterback position last year despite the return of incumbent Jacob Eason. The sophomore Eason remained ahead of Fromm in both the spring and preseason camps despite non-stop glowing reports about the freshman’s leadership traits and feats on the practice field as well as the meeting room. But then fate intervened and Fromm was thrust into the action. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, he proved worthy of the preseason praise.

Now Fromm is wearing the incumbent hat. The hope for Smart is that Fields, the 247Sports composite 5-star-rated prospect from Kennesaw, Ga., can place similar pressure on Fromm. Whether Fields can do that won’t be known until he finally gets on the field for some full-speed 11-on-11 work.

Houston Nutt played quarterback in college. At Arkansas, he was the young player who beat out the incumbent, then he was the one who lost his job and ended up transferring somewhere else. Later, Nutt had to manage those competitions as the quarterbacks coach at Oklahoma State and then head coach at Boise State, Murray State, Arkansas and Ole Miss.

He likes his vantage point better now as a college football studio analyst with CBS.

“There’s nothing like having two guys in that quarterback room who are competing hard and know they have to be at their best every day,” Nutt said. “The best scenario is they know the other one has talent and there’s respect there. Then there’s intensity in everything they do, from studying to individual drills to team drills, because they want to be best. For a coach there’s nothing better than that, because they’re both going to get better.”

Earning the confidence of his new teammates will be Fields’ greatest challenge, Nutt said. That’s also Fromm’s greatest asset.

“Jake Fromm earned his stripes; his teammates know it,” Nutt said. “That’s the biggest advantage he has. His teammates know how he took over the team and took them to the mountaintop. Coach Smart knows that, and I’m sure his quarterback coach knows that. On the same hand, though, it has to be instilled in Jake Fromm’s mind that he can’t just go through the motions. He can’t assume he’s the guy. The attitude has to be that, ‘I’ve got a guy on my heels.’ He’s got to keep improving and keep competing.”

Heading into last season, Smart maintained that Fromm’s skill and work ethic had made Eason a better quarterback. Alas, nobody was able to validate that. Eason was injured on the third offensive series of the season and was never able to regain his status when he was cleared to return five games later. Eason transferred to Washington after the season.

That has left the Bulldogs with only two scholarship quarterbacks this season. As a result, Georgia has to get Fields ready to play regardless of how well he’s able to compete with Fromm on a day-to-day basis

“Sometimes we find ourselves saying, ‘We don’t have any depth,’ ” Dooley said. “Sometimes that’s because the first-teamer is so good. We didn’t have a lot of depth behind Bill Stanfill or behind Jake Scott. We didn’t have any depth behind Herschel Walker, really. But in the case of these two quarterbacks, I don’t think there’s any question they’re both good.”

That can make it really tough on the coaches. Dooley said the most difficult competition he had to manage was between quarterbacks Ray Goff and Matt Robinson. Robinson, the incumbent, ended up winning the job but was injured in the second week. Robinson never won the job back from Goff but they both played, with Goff assuming the role of primary runner in the veer offense and Robinson as the designated passer.

That was the resolution for David Greene and D.J. Shockley, as well. It could be the ultimate outcome for Fromm and Fields; Fields is considered an excellent runner.

“The paradox is with only two quarterbacks, how much do you let Fields run and how many QB runs do you put in?” former Georgia coach Jim Donnan said. “But the bottom line is an open competition is what Fromm thrived in and benefited from, and Fields will be given the same opportunity.”

Indeed, having them both excel would be the best-case scenario for the Bulldogs, who are trying to repeat as SEC champions and return to the College Football Playoff.

“This is good for Georgia,” Nutt said. “To me, it’s just like Alabama’s situation. Jalen Hurts has lost, what, one or two games? He gets pulled in the second half of the championship and Tua [Tagovailoa] comes in and wins the national title. Now what? Well, what does Coach [Nick] Saban say? ‘Well, I think there’s a role for both of these guys.’ Of course, he wants them both to stay!

“Same with Georgia. You want them both to stay and both to play. That’s the scenario you want.”

ATHENS — Georgia linebacker Jaden Hunter was arrested on Wednesday night and faces charges for illegally stopping, standing or parking a vehicle and driving with a suspended/revoked license. The booking report on the Athens’ Clark County website revealed Hunter was booked at 9:04 p.m. by the UGA police and released at 11:33 p.m. The report […]

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ATHENS — Georgia linebacker Jaden Hunter was arrested on Wednesday night and faces charges for illegally stopping, standing or parking a vehicle and driving with a suspended/revoked license.

The booking report on the Athens’ Clark County website revealed Hunter was booked at 9:04 p.m. by the UGA police and released at 11:33 p.m.

The report indicates the bonds totaled $4,000, but Hunter’s profile on the crime report indicates $1,500 was posted before he was released.

Hunter, who is from Atlanta and attended Westlake High School, has two charges of illegally stopping, standing or parking along with two charges of driving with a suspended/revoked license.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart has not commented on the arrest of Hunter, who is the son of the late Brice Hunter, an All-SEC receiver and team captain of the Bulldogs.

Hunter, a redshirt sophomore who has played in two games each of the past two seasons, is the second Georgia player arrested in the last month.

Brini has continued to practice with the team after Smart issued the following statement: “This type of behavior is extremely disappointing and not representative of the standards for our football student-athletes. His discipline will be handled internally and hopefully good lessons will be learned that will lead to better choices moving forward.”

Smart and his players have talked about how players in the program hold one another accountable.

But on Tuesday, Smart indicated Georgia football leadership is a work in progress.

“I’ve never felt great about leadership at this point in time, I didn’t feel great two years ago, I didn’t feel great last year,” Smart said. “I think you can’t find true leadership, and you can’t manipulate it. You can’t make it happen.

“It happens through adversity, and you have to create the adversity. So in the off season we try to create adversity, hey, something happened.”

Smart was talking about creating adversity in the football sense, but he, along with most other coaches, like to apply lessons learned in football to the young men’s lives.

Both players arrested this offseason line up on the defensive side of the ball, where Smart lost defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.

Tucker was a popular coach well-respected by the Georgia players, so Smart’s staff is also undergoing some leadership changes as assistants shift into different roles.

Charlton Warren is the new defensive backs coach, while linebackers coach Dan Lanning has the added responsibility of overseeing the entire defense after being promoted to the coordinator post.

Some Georgia fans have been critical of the way UGA has used its tight ends under coach Kirby Smart. However, former UGA tight end Isaac Nauta still played his way into contention for an NFL roster spot despite not always being the focal point of the Bulldogs offense, and he sees big things ahead for […]

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Some Georgia fans have been critical of the way UGA has used its tight ends under coach Kirby Smart. However, former UGA tight end Isaac Nauta still played his way into contention for an NFL roster spot despite not always being the focal point of the Bulldogs offense, and he sees big things ahead for the players who’ll follow him at UGA.

Georgia football is the No. 1 topic every day on DawgNation Daily — the daily podcast for Georgia Bulldogs fans. Catch up on everything happening with UGA athletics with host Brandon Adams and the cast of DawgNation experts as they break down the latest Georgia football recruiting news and discuss UGA coach Kirby Smart’s quest […]

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Georgia football is the No. 1 topic every day on DawgNation Daily — the daily podcast for Georgia Bulldogs fans. Catch up on everything happening with UGA athletics with host Brandon Adams and the cast of DawgNation experts as they break down the latest Georgia football recruiting news and discuss UGA coach Kirby Smart’s quest to keep the Bulldogs on top of the SEC. On episodes No. 905 (March 19, 2019) of the podcast, Georgia fans can hear a discussion about something UGA coach Kirby Smart said that some fans probably won’t like.

Georgia football podcast: Some UGA fans didn’t hear what they wanted from Kirby Smart

Beginning of the show: Georgia coach Kirby Smart is justifiably popular with UGA fans for the success he’s brought the program the last two seasons. However, former offensive coordinator Jim Chaney never quite shared that same popularity with many of those same fans.

A lot of UGA fans would probably like to hear Smart share a similar dissatisfaction with the way Chaney called plays. I’ll explain on today’s show why that’s not what Smart did when he spoke to reporters Tuesday. I’ll also talk about how that belief could impact the game plan for new offensive coordinator James Coley.

Also…

I’ll share a snippet of Smart’s opening press conference on the subject of his new coordinators and more.

I’ll share an interview with UGA quarterback Jake Fromm on his time in Indianapolis for the NFL combine and how he thinks Coley’s offense could be different from Chaney’s.

A conversation with Bulldogs safety J.R. Reed will also be part of the show, as well as an interview with UGA left tackle Andrew Thomas.

Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. Georgia football: Bill Belichick now a figure in the Kirby Smart-Nick Saban rivalry Whether he knew it or not, New England Patriots coach Bill […]

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Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more.

Georgia football: Bill Belichick now a figure in the Kirby Smart-Nick Saban rivalry

Whether he knew it or not, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick became a piece in the ongoing rivalry between Kirby Smart and Alabama coach Nick Saban when Belichick praised the Georgia football program at Super Bowl media day.

“I think Kirby’s program is excellent to prepare guys for the National Football League,” Belichick said in Atlanta prior to the Patriots’ 13-3 Super Bowl win over the Rams. Belichick went on to say that Georgia players approach the game of football is consistent with how New England does.

This kind of praise became an easy selling point for the Georgia program. Here is the greatest football coach of all-time giving high praise to the Georgia program. Belichick also seems to practice what he preaches, given that he used both of his 2018 first round picks on Georgia players in Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel.

Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley told reporters at the NFL combine that Michel told him the Patriots practice in similar way to Georgia. Factor in that the Patriots’ starting center is Georgia football great David Andrews, and the ties between New England and Georgia are very strong.

You might be asking yourself what Saban and Alabama have to do with this. Well on Tuesday, Alabama held its pro day. Belichick was in attendance and donned an Alabama pullover. As a New England Patriots fan myself, it’s one of the worst images I’ve ever seen.

Saban and Belichick have a long-standing relationship, as Saban worked as Belichick’s defensive coordinator when the two were with the Cleveland Browns in the 1990’s. They’re also both very well-regarded defensive minds, and for the most part considered the best coaches in their respective sports.

What makes Belichick wearing the Alabama pullover so interesting though is that he didn’t return the favor when he showed up at Georgia’s pro day on Wednesday. The legendary coach wore in his usual Patriots gear.

Smart was asked about Belichick’s fashion choice and seemed to brush it off.

“I didn’t see him wearing an Alabama one,” Smart said. “No I didn’t notice that. I’m good with whatever Bill wants to wear. I think he’s pretty comfortable in his own shoes.”

We’ll probably never know why Belichick put on the Alabama pullover. Do I think there’s a non-zero chance Saban asked Belichick to wear it as a favor? Absolutely. Do I think Belichick really put much thought into what kind of message the pullover send? No. Would he have worn a Georgia one if Smart asked? Maybe. It’s worth remembering that Belichick’s most iconic fashion choice is wearing a hoodie with the sleeves cut off. He’s never really branded himself as a man who focuses a ton on his personal fashion.

But in reality, I’m not sure how much Belichick’s fashion or comments would actually do much to sway whether a recruit picks Alabama or Georgia. Belichick isn’t exactly a beloved figure by many, and there are a number of other reasons why a top recruit would pick either school. What Belichick says shouldn’t act as a deciding factor in any recruitment.

When Smart was asked about how pro day would possibly help in recruiting, he made it a point to say that pro day is a bigger priority with Georgia’s chances of putting guys in the NFL draft than using it as something to sell to recruits. The relationship with Belichick is far more important in that regard than it is in the recruiting sense.

As for where things stand between Smart and Saban, it depends on who you listen too. Last week, Paul Finebaum said the two “can’t stand each other.” But Smart rebuked that idea on Tuesday, saying things are still good between the two.

“I don’t have any issue or any problem with any relationship with Nick. As a matter of fact, I don’t think it’s done anything but grown for more respect since we’ve played them twice,” Smart said on Tuesday. “Every time I see Coach Saban, we have a great relationship. We’re not texting and calling each other buddy, buddy, but I’m not doing that with anybody. So that’s not to be of mention. I have a lot of respect for him. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him, and there’s no problem with our relationship.”

The Smart-Saban budding rivalry or relationship figures to only get more entertaining as Smart becomes more entrenched with Georgia football, and further distances himself from the Alabama. The tug of war over Bill Belichick is just another example of that.

Join the DawgNation Bracket Pool!

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The winner of our bracket challenge will win a DawgNation VIP gift pack full of DawgNation swag and prizes. The top 10 finishers will also win a DawgNation T-shirt. And you’ll have the chance to prove you know more than DawgNation personalities like Brandon Adams.

To enter the DawgNation bracket challenge, click here. Just note you are only allowed one bracket into the contest. Make sure you submit your bracket by Thursday, March 21.

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After claiming medalist honors for the first time in his career and leading Georgia to the team title at the Linger Longer Invitational, Spencer Ralston has been chosen as the SEC Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/XFj0J6MgJm

ATHENS — Georgia football fan-favorite Elijah Holyfield just wants to hear his named called in the NFL draft and play football. The departing Georgia tailback breathed a sigh of relief after his performance in the so-called “House of Payne” UGA indoor football facility, the combine-like pro day workout finally behind him. RELATED: Kirby Smart proud […]

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ATHENS — Georgia football fan-favorite Elijah Holyfield just wants to hear his named called in the NFL draft and play football.

The departing Georgia tailback breathed a sigh of relief after his performance in the so-called “House of Payne” UGA indoor football facility, the combine-like pro day workout finally behind him.

“Elijah is going to be a great pro, Elijah brings a lot to a team, he brings a toughness, he brings a demeanor about him, he loves to work,” Smart said. “He was the last guy off the field every day here, catching extra balls. He’s done a tremendous job in our program, he’s going to do the same thing in that organization.

“The stripes of a player don’t change when they go to the next level, so I know he’s going to convert what he’s done well here into the same thing there.”

Holyfield said he has an interview with the Houston Texans on Thursday, and next week he will fly to New Orleans to meet with the Saints before returning to Atlanta to meet with Philadelphia on March 29.

ATHENS — The numbers are in the books, and while they vary slightly from one team to another, NFL teams have a pretty good idea about Georgia football players. The Bulldogs annual pro day was among the final pieces of the puzzle, with players still having some individual meetings left with the various franchises leading […]

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ATHENS — The numbers are in the books, and while they vary slightly from one team to another, NFL teams have a pretty good idea about Georgia football players.

The Bulldogs annual pro day was among the final pieces of the puzzle, with players still having some individual meetings left with the various franchises leading up to the NFL draft April 25-27 in Nashville.

It seemed Georgia tight end Isaac Nauta came away the biggest winner, relative to how he tested at the combine in Indianapolis earlier this month.

Nauta improved his 40-yard dash time from 4.91 in Indy to times clocked between 4.71 and 4.83.

UGA coach Kirby Smart, who was on hand to support the 21 former Georgia players testing out in front of the NFL teams, said he had sent a message of encourage to Nauta leading up to pro day.

“I just sent him a text message that he’s got a lot of good tape out there, not to get overwhelmed with one moment, don’t be disappointed, “ Smart said. “You could run a great time and have too much expectation, or you could run a poor time worse than what you think you should, and you still have tape out there.”

That’s the bottom line for all of the Georgia players with realistic NFL expectations.

But still, the combine element matters, as team turn over every stone before investing millions into their roster.

Unofficial 40 times from Georgia pro day (media cross-section)

• Isaac Nauta 4.71 to 4.83 (4.91 at combine)

• Elijah Holyfield 4.76 to 4.89 (4.78 at combine)

• Jonathan Ledbetter 5.11 to 5.13 (5.14 at combine)

• Deandre Baker 4.46 to 4.49(4.52 at combine)

• Jayson Stanley 4.37 to 4.47 (did not attend combine)

Mecole Hardman (4.33), Terry Godwin (4.55), Riley Ridley (4.58) all stood on their NFL combine times and did not run on Wednesday.

Mike Griffith and D. Orlando Ledbetter

]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/football/watch-ajc-dawgnation-breaks-down-georgia-pro-day-40-times/feed0Georgia’s Deandre Baker: ‘My film is undeniable; you can’t overlook what I do on the field’https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgias-deandre-baker-my-film-is-undeniable-you-cant-overlook-what-i-do-on-the-field
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgias-deandre-baker-my-film-is-undeniable-you-cant-overlook-what-i-do-on-the-field#respondWed, 20 Mar 2019 19:04:22 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=139412

ATHENS — And the star of UGA’s Pro Day was … Jarvis Wilson. That’s right, the same Jarvis Wilson who did not start a single game in his four-year career as a Georgia safety. Based on the “measurables” that the NFL holds so dear, Wilson “blew it up” Wednesday at UGA’s Pro Day. He had […]

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ATHENS — And the star of UGA’s Pro Day was …

Jarvis Wilson.

That’s right, the same Jarvis Wilson who did not start a single game in his four-year career as a Georgia safety. Based on the “measurables” that the NFL holds so dear, Wilson “blew it up” Wednesday at UGA’s Pro Day. He had 24 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press — better than all the Bulldogs, linemen included — then put up a sub-4.4 time in the 40-yard dash.

Can’t miss prospect, right?

No, we all know that it’s highly unlikely that Wilson will get drafted. And that’s no knock on the young man from Tupelo, Miss. All he’s ever done is everything his coaches and counselors told him to do, from high school through college. He’ll graduate sometime over the next few months, probably get a few camp invites here and there, then go about the business of living his life.

Jackson Harris is another Bulldog who had a great day Wednesday. He was clocked at 4.71 seconds in the 40. That’s an incredible time for a 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end. It was considerably better than the tight end about which there was the most fuss coming into this exercise.

That’d be Isaac Nauta. The junior who chose to enter the draft early was thanking his lucky stars for breaking 4.8 seconds in the 40 this time. He was unable to do that when he went through this same round of testing a month ago at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

Jordan Jenkins, as he has been for the last couple of years, was inside Georgia’s Payne Athletic Facility Wednesday taking in all the festivities. He was smiling and laughing a lot. It wasn’t just because he was happy to be back at UGA, which he was. It was because it wasn’t him having to go through the testing this time.

“I hated it; hated it,” Jenkins said, repeating himself for emphasis. “I always sucked when it came to testing. I don’t why, but I never did as well as I thought I could.”

You know what Jenkins doesn’t suck at? Playing football. Fortunately for him, the New York Jets saw through his testing numbers and drafted him in the third round in 2016. Since then he has played in 46 NFL games, with 37 starts.

Jenkins said he ran a 4.8 at the combine the year he came out of Georgia, with a top time of 4.77. He was incredulous on Wednesday when he heard Harris’ 40 time.

“No way is Jackson faster than me,” Jenkins said with a hardy laugh. “I know that for a fact. No way!”

Not to play total cynic here but, from what I’ve witnessed over the years, I’m thinking it doesn’t matter a whole lot what kind of numbers one posts at these events. It’s my belief that the NFL execs already have a pretty strong idea who they want and what direction they’re going to go in the draft before they put these guys through the paces.

All the testing and everything they do primarily gives them ammunition to de-value prospects wherever they can. Of course, it’s the NFL’s game and their rules, so they can make prospects do anything they want. There’s nothing make-believe about the money they pay and what can be bought with that money.

But football is football and one can either play the game or not. And when you’re coming out of a program like Georgia — or Alabama or Florida or most any Power 5 school — they have all the proof they need to that end from three or four years of playing genuine, meaningful games.

Which brings us to the case of Deandre Baker. Baker is Georgia’s most promising prospect for the draft class of 2019. When he finished up with the Bulldogs in December, won the Jim Thorpe Award and All-America honors and then decided to skip the Sugar Bowl, he was considered a lock to be an early first-rounder and likely the first cornerback taken in this year’s draft.

Since then, most of what we’ve heard about Baker has been negative. He didn’t test well at the combine. We’re told from “NFL insiders” that he hasn’t been preparing hard enough and hasn’t “helped himself” as far as his draft position. The “word” on Baker coming in was that draft stock has “slipped,” and that 4.52 time at the combine didn’t help.

Fortunately for Baker, he appears to have helped himself Wednesday with a 40-yard time reportedly in the 4.4s. Neither UGA nor the NFL shared any “official” data in real time during the proceedings, so we’re going on second-hand intel. But Baker, for one, said he ran “a 4.4” was he happy with all that he was able to show scouts Wednesday.

“It was a good day overall,” Baker said afterward. “It’s been a hard process, but you’ve got to love it because it’s for better things.”

Good for him. Then again, just how necessary was it for Baker to show he could run a sub-4.4? I mean, doesn’t he have four years worth of real football data to show scouts?

Let’s see, Baker played in 51 football games while at Georgia. Considering the defense was on the field for about half of those, that’s roughly 1,530 minutes — or 25½ hours — of game video available to review. The Bulldogs also video every minute of every practice so, that’s another 280 hours of video to look at over four years.

Of course, Baker has produced all sorts of statistical data produced over that span, too. You can google them up by the dozens, but the plainest and most impressive stat to me is this one: Zero TDs allowed in more than 700 snaps over the last two seasons. One might note, the Bulldogs have played some pretty good teams for some pretty high stakes these past two years.

Apparently this is something on which Baker and I agree.

“You know, they just want to see your raw speed, your raw ‘vert. It’s just another way to to test you,” Baker said, still sweating from the going through Wednesday’s DB drills alongside Wilson. “But you always have to put it together on film and I do that all the time. My film is undeniable. You can’t overlook what I do on the field. So I don’t really pay attention that other stuff.”

To be sure, evaluating football players is a tough task. I read somewhere that the NFL gets it right on draft prospects less than 50 percent of the time. But NFL almost always gets it right is once players make a roster. After that, you can either play or you can’t. One can either hang or they can’t. In Baker’s case, you can either cover or you can’t.

I’m thinking Baker can cover. And regardless of where he gets drafted next month, early first round, late-first, second, I believe he’s going to play in the league for a while.

Maybe then he can come back to Georgia for some future Pro Days and join Jenkins on the sideline some good laughs.

ATHENS — Kirby Smart and Bill Belichick visited for several minutes visiting in Georgia’s so-called “House of Payne” indoor facility Wednesday afternoon. All 32 NFL teams were represented. The Atlanta Falcons sent 11 coaches to see the outgoing Bulldogs show their speed, athleticism and skills in combine-line drills. But Belichick, perhaps more than any of […]

“I think Kirby’s program is excellent to prepare guys for the National Football League,” said Belichick, who selected UGA players Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and signed center David Andrews as a free agent in 2015.

After Georgia’s pro day, more Bulldogs will be on their way to the league. Smart was practically beaming with pride on Wednesday.

“We want them to have this opportunity, that’s what they dream of, but we want them to get their education as well.”

There were 21 players running drills on Wednesday, from projected first-round NFL draft pick Deandre Baker to former Bulldog Tramel Terry, who signed with UGA in 2013 before finishing his career with Jacksonville State.

Smart, who spent the 2006 season with the Miami Dolphins coaching the safeties, has as good of a perspective as anyone on what the NFL combine drills mean.

Not only has the Georgia coach prepared several players for NFL careers, but he went through the process himself.

Smart was an All-SEC safety at Georgia who signed a free-agent deal with the Indianapolis Colts before getting cut before the start of the regular season.

“We still say your tape will speak volumes to who you are, and a lot of our kids have some good tape,” Smart said. “I know from having worked in that league there’s a lot more than just the combine and the times.

“There’s a lot of football tape to be watched, there’s a lot of background to be checked, and those are all strong points for a lot of our players, so don’t put a lot of weight on a number.”

As for Belichick, Smart indicated their conversation covered several areas.

“He knows you know your own players, he’s always about guys you played against that you thought a lot of, guys coming in the future,” Smart said, “or things they are doing in their organization that are making them better that maybe we can mirror.”

Indeed, there are already similarities.

“Sony (Michel) told me that the New England Patriots practice is just like the University of Georgia practice, but maybe not as intense, because we’re in college,” departing UGA receiver Riley Ridley said at the NFL combine. “But he said they have the same attack.”

ATHENS — The Falcons sent a large contingent over to Georgia’s Pro Day on Wednesday. The crowd of NFL executive, scouts and coaches included Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, assistant general manager Scott Pioli and Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “This is a really busy time of the year of course, to have double-digits here both sides, […]

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ATHENS — The Falcons sent a large contingent over to Georgia’s Pro Day on Wednesday.

“This is a really busy time of the year of course, to have double-digits here both sides, coaching and scouting, means a lot to us,” Dimitroff said. “The athletes in this state and the athletes at this school, we are always going to be really honed in on it. I think today we had a lot of people here and we gleaned a lot of information here. It’s good.”

A total of 21 former Bulldogs participated in the drills.

Here are 10 things we learned:

1. Holyfield is a football player. Running back Elijah Holyfield ran slow again. He was timed in the high 4.7s and low 4.8s on both of his 40-yard dashes. The target time for running backs in 4.55 seconds.

“Of course, it’s a concern and how high you determine that to be sort of the guiding light,” Dimitroff said. “Obviously, he’s a good football player. We have to keep an eye on that. He’s a good football player and knows how to play this game.”

2. Baker had a better showing. Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker improved on his time of 4.51 from the scouting combine. He ran his first 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds. “I know I’m the best cornerback in the draft,” Baker said.

Dimitroff is hearing that Baker is the top corner in the country, too.

“Deandre had a really good day today,” Dimitroff said. “He’s quick, fast and explosive. He can run. Cover the field. Very good range that way. He’s being (mentioned) as one of the best in the country in the draft. It will be interesting to see how that plays out.”

Also, area scout Tokunbo Abanikanda and scouting assistant Penil Jean were on hand.

4. Dimitroff and Smart. Dimitroff and Georgia coach Kirby Smart were chatting on the field during the defensive linemen drills.

5. Ledbetter had strong showing. Georgia defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter also went through the outside linebacker drills for the 3-4 teams.

6. Gaillard scouted: Morgan and Kronenberg closely watch former Bulldog center Lamont Gaillard. Dimitroff said that despite signing two guards in free agency the Falcons were not done fixing the offensive line and finding youth and depth.

7. Baker, Falcons. Baker said that he has not met with the Falcons, who must replace three cornerbacks after getting rid of Robert Alford, Brian Poole and Justin Bethel.

8. Hardman dazzled. Former Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman helped himself with a strong showing. He’s ability to change direction and keep rolling at a high rate of speed was impressive. He’s viewed as a returner with some upside as a receiver.

9. Nauta relying on his film. Tight end Issac Nauta, who ran a 4.91 at the combine, was hoping to improve his team. “I bounced back today,” Nauta said.

10. Ridley reunion. Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley was on hand to provide support for his brother Riley Ridley.

Also, former Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins, who plays for the New York Jets, was on hand for Pro Day.

Georgia football held its first practice of the spring session on Tuesday. And it offered us a chance to get a look at Georgia’s 14 early enrollees for the 2019 recruiting class. Below we’ve compiled a list of the jersey numbers for the early enrollees spotted at practice, as well as some other general notes […]

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Georgia football held its first practice of the spring session on Tuesday. And it offered us a chance to get a look at Georgia’s 14 early enrollees for the 2019 recruiting class.

Below we’ve compiled a list of the jersey numbers for the early enrollees spotted at practice, as well as some other general notes on the newcomers to Georgia football. We also noted some jersey changes for returning Georgia players as well.

Just as a disclaimer, there wasno official roster was provided. We did not see the injured early enrollees Ryland Goede, Trezmen Marshall, or Rian Davis.

Mathis flipped to Georgia via Ohio State on early signing day. He’s expected to compete with Stetson Bennett for the back-up quarterback job.

“Yeah, the two quarterbacks are going to get the reps behind him. Dwan Mathis and Stetson Bennett are both going to get a ton of reps. To say most, I don’t know that we could say most,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “They’ll get the same amount behind him. But those two guys will be working, as well as John Seter, who is one of our walk-ons. He’ll get reps as well.”

Nolan Smith, outside linebacker: No. 4

Smith was Georgia’s highest rated signee and the No. 1 player in the country in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Seen this practice or game pose from @SmithNoland2 many many times. But this is the first in red and black. That's the nation's No. 1 prospect for 2019 at his first college practice. pic.twitter.com/jowk60rWAG

Daniel also comes to Georgia by way of the JUCO route. He was a one-time South Carolina commit before pledging his services to Georgia. He is expected to compete for and possibly fill the role vacated by Deandre Baker.

Lewis Cine, safety: No. 16

Cine is another top-50 member of Georgia’s stacked 2019 recruiting class. All three defensive back signees in the 2019 class were all also early enrollees.

Nakobe Dean, linebacker: No. 17

Dean picked the Bulldogs on Early Signing Day over the likes of Alabama and Ole Miss. He is a 5-star prospect and the No. 1 player in the state from the state of Missisippi. Davis and Marshall also enrolled early, though both of them are injured.

Clay Webb, center: No. 60

Webb is another 5-star recruit in the 2019 signing class. Smart mentioned in his press conference that Webb would work some at center this spring, and compete with Trey Hill and Jamaree Salyer for the starting job.

Warren McClendon, offensive tackle: No. 70

McClendon is a 4-star offensive tackle out of Brunswick, Ga.

Tramel Walthour, defensive tackle: No. 90

Walthour originally signed as a member of Georgia’s 2018 class, but he had to go the JUCO route before ending up with Georgia for the 2019 signing class.

The early enrollees weren’t the only ones with some number changes. Below are some of the new numbers that DawgNation was able to catch.

Adam Anderson, outside linebacker: Now No. 19. previously was No. 56

Azeez Ojulari, outside linebacker: Now No. 13, previously No. 38

Divaad Wilson, cornerback: Now No. 8, previously No. 16

James Cook, running back: Now No. 4, previously No. 6

Matt Landers, wide receiver: Now No. 5, previously No. 15

Otis Reese, safety: Now No. 6, previously No. 17

For a deeper look at Georgia’s first spring practice, as well as a look at some of the pictures taken at the first practice, check out the DawgNation forum thread on Georgia’s first practice.

It was a big day for 14 Georgia newcomers as they practiced with UGA for the first time Monday. That’s the subject of today’s DN90. Although it isn’t completely accurate to call them all “newcomers.” Quarterback Stetson Bennett was previously with the Bulldogs as a walk-on, but is taking his first snaps this week as […]

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It was a big day for 14 Georgia newcomers as they practiced with UGA for the first time Monday. That’s the subject of today’s DN90.

Although it isn’t completely accurate to call them all “newcomers.” Quarterback Stetson Bennett was previously with the Bulldogs as a walk-on, but is taking his first snaps this week as a scholarship player. UGA coach Kirby Smart said he and 4-star signee, D’wan Mathis would get plenty of reps as their competition vying to become the No. 2 signal caller behind Jake Fromm intensifies in the weeks ahead.

Smart also addressed the status of three injured players — linebackers Rian Davis and Trezmen Marshall and tight end Ryland Goede. They won’t be able to do much this spring, but will hopefully ready to fully participate this summer.

Smart also explained that 5-star offensive lineman Clay Webb will get a look at center — a position UGA is looking to fill in the wake of Lamont Gaillard’s departure.

Webb’s status as a 5-star is a familiar attribute for this group. Webb is one of three former 5-stars in the group of early enrollees. There are also eight former 4-star recruits on campus from the 2019 class — which ranked No. 2 in the 247Sports composite team ranking.

Early-enrollee status can be a valuable asset for freshmen looking for significant playing time in their first seasons, and not just because of spring practice.

The winter workout routines are an opportunity to improve physical condition and impress the staff, and based on Smart’s remarks, it sounds like many of the new faces around UGA have done just that.

For more of what Smart had to say about the UGA early enrollees, take a look at the video linked above.

Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. Georgia football coach Kirby Smart gave some telling comments on 5-star WR George Pickens Very rarely does Georgia football coach Kirby Smart comment publicly […]

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Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more.

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart gave some telling comments on 5-star WR George Pickens

Very rarely does Georgia football coach Kirby Smart comment publicly on some of Georgia’s players. He’s not one to heap praise or peel back the curtain on how he views a player. That’s what make his comments on 5-star wide receiver George Pickens so interesting.

Smart was initially asked about graduate transfers during his press conference on Tuesday. He can’t discuss Lawrence Cager or Eli Wolf, as neither are officially a part of the Georgia program yet. But Smart did bring up Pickens, as well as 3-star tight end Brett Seither. Both players signed with Georgia on National Signing Day.

And like most Georgia fans, Smart seems pretty excited about what Georgia is getting in the 5-star wide receiver from Hoover, Ala.

“We know George is going to fit what we did,” Smart said. “He really was intrigued by the fact that we had the guys come out early, and he knew that he fit in our style system. And we think he’s a talented player that we’re looking forward to working with.”

Pickens, for those who have forgotten, flipped from Auburn to Georgia in February after being a long-time Tigers commit. It was another big recruiting win for the Bulldogs and Smart. Pickens is the first 5-star wide receiver to sign with Georgia in a decade. The last time a 5-star wide receiver signed with the program was all the way back in 2009. Pickens is rated as the No. 24 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle, and a number of recruiting experts actually think he’s the best wide receiver prospect in the country.

It’s worth mentioning Pickens still has some academic work to do before he gets to Georgia, but Smart wouldn’t have made such a push to add him if they didn’t think he could get it done.

Pickens isn’t the only big-name wide receiver Georgia is bringing in this offseason, as the Bulldogs also signed 4-star wide receivers Dominick Blaylock and Makiya Tongue. Pickens was rated as the No. 4 wide receiver per the 247Sports Composite. Blaylock was No. 5 and the No. 36 player overall.

The timing of these additions is much-needed, given Georgia lost three of its top four wide receivers from last year as well as tight end Isaac Nauta. Truth be told, Smart probably wishes Pickens, Blaylock, Tongue and Cager were all on campus already.

Georgia still has a number of interesting options at the position such as guys like Kearis Jackson, Matt Landers, Tommy Bush, Demetris Robertson and Jeremiah Holloman. Smart is also excited to see what they bring to the table this spring.

“We’re going to find out what they’re about,” Smart said. “We’re going to see if they can go out and compete and go against the best and make plays.”

When you’ve signed as many 5-star prospects and potential difference makers as Georgia has in recent years, it’s easy to overlook some guys. Given that Georgia has a glut of talent, it’s easy to not give proper players the spotlight they deserve.

But with Smart’s comments on Pickens, make no mistake about it: Georgia football is very much looking forward to seeing what Pickens can do as a part of the offense.

Join the DawgNation Bracket Pool!

March Madness is officially here. So why not join in on the fun with DawgNation and take part in the DawgNation bracket challenge?

The winner of our bracket challenge will win a DawgNation VIP gift pack full of DawgNation swag and prizes. The top 10 finishers will also win a DawgNation T-shirt. And you’ll have the chance to prove you know more than DawgNation personalities like Brandon Adams.

To enter the DawgNation bracket challenge, click here. Just note you are only allowed one bracket into the contest. Make sure you submit your bracket by Thursday, March 21.

Instructions to join:

Sign in to your ESPN.com account or register for a free one

Go to ESPN’s Tournament Challenge page.

Fill out your Bracket using the Create a Bracket button.

Once your bracket is filled out, join the DawgNation group. Go to the Join Group tab and search “DawgNation”. Or click here.

Sit back and watch your bracket win.

Tate Martell and the transfer portal

On Tuesday, former Ohio State quarterback Tate Martell was granted immediate eligibility to play at Miami. To some, this is seen as an even bigger deal in the grand scheme of college football than the Justin Fields decision.

What does this means for Georgia in the immediate? Not much. Fields, tight end Luke Ford and defensive back Deangelo Gibbs have already left the program. But it’s not far-fetched to think that another round of transfers is possible after spring practice. Guys will have a better idea of where they stand in terms of playing time. Some will tempted to put their name into the transfer portal and explore a situation for more playing time.

As of today, it’s easy to say that this is the start of free agency in college football. I’m not yet willing to go that far. But it’s very clear that college football is on a slippery slope when it comes to that.

Let’s say that the NCAA granted Martell’s transfer request because the coach who recruited him to Ohio State — Urban Meyer — is no longer the head coach there. Coaches move around all the time and in the past, it has been unfair to players that coaches are allowed to jump immediately to better situations.

If we go back to the 2015 offseason, let’s say that Sony Michel, Nick Chubb or Roquan Smith wanted to look elsewhere after the coaching change. Georgia would certainly have been much worse off had they chosen to do so. And it’s fair to say the players wouldn’t have found the success and love they did at Georgia if they went on to play just one or two seasons at another big school.

Will there now be a mass exodus when a coaching change happens? Or will a number of players who decide they no longer want to play for a coach or school? Probably not. But you can expect the number of names to enter the transfer portal to tick up in the years to come. Players pretty clearly don’t have to sit out a season anymore, and that should only further entice them to look for better opportunities.

Seen this practice or game pose from @SmithNoland2 many many times. But this is the first in red and black. That's the nation's No. 1 prospect for 2019 at his first college practice. pic.twitter.com/jowk60rWAG

Georgia football is the No. 1 topic every day on DawgNation Daily — the daily podcast for Georgia Bulldogs fans. Catch up on everything happening with UGA athletics with host Brandon Adams and the cast of DawgNation experts as they break down the latest Georgia football recruiting news and discuss UGA coach Kirby Smart’s quest […]

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Georgia football is the No. 1 topic every day on DawgNation Daily — the daily podcast for Georgia Bulldogs fans. Catch up on everything happening with UGA athletics with host Brandon Adams and the cast of DawgNation experts as they break down the latest Georgia football recruiting news and discuss UGA coach Kirby Smart’s quest to keep the Bulldogs on top of the SEC. On episodes No. 905 (March 19, 2019) of the podcast, Georgia fans can hear a discussion about the beginning of UGA spring practice live from Athens, Ga.

Georgia football podcast: Previewing the start of UGA spring practice

Beginning of the show: DawgNation Daily was in Athens Tuesday for a special broadcast to kickoff spring practice. I’ll discuss how Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm will attempt to use his experience to his advantage this season, and I’ll talk about the possibility that UGA running back D’Andre Swift could emerge as “the face” of the offense in an era in which quarterback play seems to dominate the national conversation.

Five-minute mark: DawgNation’s Mike Griffith joins the show to discuss how the 14 early enrollees are likely to fit into the Bulldogs’ plans, what to expect from new coordinators Dan Lanning and James Coley and how UGA coach Kirby Smart will handle the prodigious expectations facing his team.

30-minute mark: I take a lot of questions and comments from our video audience and subject myself to endless ridicule and mockery for the unkempt condition of my hair on an especially windy day on the UGA campus.

***NOTE: DawgNation Daily will also be live in Athens again Wednesday for UGA’s Pro Day with commentary from Smart, Fromm, Andrew Thomas and J.R. Reed. We’ll return to our “DawgNation World Headquarters Studio” and our normal format on Thursday.”***

ATHENS — Millions of dollars will be on the line for Georgia’s outgoing players in the “House of Payne” indoor football facility on Wednesday morning. Coach Kirby Smart said he can’t wait to cheer his players on at the Pro Day event, with all 32 NFL teams expected to be in attendance. “I’ve followed each […]

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ATHENS — Millions of dollars will be on the line for Georgia’s outgoing players in the “House of Payne” indoor football facility on Wednesday morning.

Coach Kirby Smart said he can’t wait to cheer his players on at the Pro Day event, with all 32 NFL teams expected to be in attendance.

“I’ve followed each one of them, communicated with each one of them, and we as a coaching staff and really organization are pulling really hard for those guys,” Smart said at his spring football press conference on Tuesday.

“The best thing that could happen for us is for each one of those guys to be drafted as high as possible, and for our program, and we’re looking forward to having a hell of a draft because we have the potential to have a lot of guys drafted,” he said. “So the better those guys do tomorrow, the better the chance is of that.”

Thorpe Award winning cornerback Deandre Baker is still widely projected as a first-round pick after running an official 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine on March 4.

Baker will run his 40-yard dash again, according to his agent, Andy Simms of Young Money APAA.

“A 4.52 is a totally acceptable time, it’s the average corner in the NFL, and many guys would be thrilled with it,” Simms said. “But he was not happy with it.”

Simms pointed out the combine can present some challenge circumstances for players wanting optimum results, particular one like Baker who was up until midnight each night doing formal interviews with several NFL teams.

“He had not run more than a 4.4 40 leading up to the combine,” Simms said. “He wants to show everyone what he can do.”

D’Andre Walker, another Simms’ client, won’t be able to work out for NFL scouts until he’s further along in the healing process after undergoing hernia surgery on Jan. 24.

Walker, who was enjoying an MVP performance against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game before suffering the injury,will be present to weigh in and be measured.

Walker will continue to work toward an individual workout for teams tentatively scheduled for April 12.

Other Georgia players expected to run field drills and re-time in the 40 include tight end Isaac Nauta (4.91), receiver Riley Ridley (4.58), tailback Elijah Holyfield (4.78) and defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter (5.14).

All three of the outgoing Bulldogs had disappointing performances at the NFL combine and would benefit from better results at Georgia’s pro day.

Mecole Hardman (4.33 in the 40) had arguably the best NFL combine performance among the Georgia players, so he’s expected to do no more than position drills.

ATHENS — Day One of spring football is in the books for Georgia, and now Kirby Smart and his program have 14 remaining including the G-Day game on April 20. AJC-DawgNation reporters Mike Griffith and Chip Towers reviewed Smart’s presentation on Tuesday night, taking note of key revelations and observations from the practice field. The […]

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ATHENS — Day One of spring football is in the books for Georgia, and now Kirby Smart and his program have 14 remaining including the G-Day game on April 20.

ATHENS — Dan Lanning was right there in his regular spot, gathered with his outside linebacker charges between the 10- and 20-yard lines on the western end of the eastern-most field on Georgia’s Woodruff Practice Fields. Glenn Schumann and James Coley were also in their usual spots, Schumann with the inside ‘backers on one end […]

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ATHENS — Dan Lanning was right there in his regular spot, gathered with his outside linebacker charges between the 10- and 20-yard lines on the western end of the eastern-most field on Georgia’s Woodruff Practice Fields.

Glenn Schumann and James Coley were also in their usual spots, Schumann with the inside ‘backers on one end of the football complex and Coley on the complete opposite end with the quarterbacks. All of them were taking their usual hands-on approach with their respective position players.

At one point, Coley was down one knee showing Jake Fromm how he wanted him to take a snap from center, as though Fromm had never done that before. Schumann held the back of a linebacker’s shoulder pads, pushing and steering him toward the place he wanted him to end up when the action went live later.

From that standpoint, the first quarter of the Bulldogs’ first spring practice looked no different than any of the others in the last four years under head coach Kirby Smart. Where those guys’ jobs are different this year are in the team meetings that precede and follow these practices. That’s where the actual coordination that coordinators do gets done.

It’s been in that arena that Georgia’s veteran players are seeing a difference in styles from the new coaches. They used a lot of action words to describe them, like fiery and rowdy and energetic.

“I feel like he brings a lot of energy,” senior defensive tackle Michael Barnett said of Lanning, who led the defensive team meetings Monday and Tuesday. “The young guys love the energy. That’s something new.”

Said senior safety J.R. Reed: “Coach Lanning is a lot younger than Coach Tucker, so he’s going to bring more fire. He can get a little more rowdy than Coach Tucker can. A lot more fire, a lot more energy.”

The 32-year-old Lanning replaced the 47-year-old Mel Tucker as Georgia’s defensive coordinator this season. Tucker left to become the head coach at Colorado, which came as no surprise to Smart.

The 28-year-old Schumann will also have a hand coordinating the defense, though the primary responsibility remains with Lanning.

Coley, who will turn 46 on April 14, is closer to middle age than his defensive counterparts. He has also been a coordinator before, handling that job at Miami and serving as co-coordinator at Florida State. But he also has a decidedly different personality and style than his predecessor. Jim Chaney is 57 and, though known to bark orders pretty loudly when needed, was decidedly less frenetic and energetic than than always-pacing Coley.

As for exactly what the offense will look like under Coley’s unfettered guidance, beyond “balanced” nobody seems to be certain at this point.

“We’ll have to see,” quarterback Jake Fromm said. “Coach Coley called plays for me in the spring game my freshman year, but that was a long time ago and I can’t write down what plays he called. But I think he’ll be great. I’m excited for it and I can’t wait.”

In general, all three coaches are in place as Georgia’s coordinators because Smart doesn’t want much to change. If you haven’t been paying attention the last two years, the Bulldogs have won 24 of 29 games over that span, which included winning one championship and playing for two others.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Right?

But one of the inevitabilities of winning at the highest levels of sport is there is going to be attrition, especially if things are going well. So when Tucker left to be a head coach and Chaney left for Tennessee to do the same thing for a bunch more money, Smart was not caught by surprise.

That said, Smart wouldn’t say whether he conducted a coast-to-coast national search before settling on his staff’s current configuration or if elevating Coley and Lanning was the plan all along.

“I don’t think you ever know exactly what you want to do,” Smart said. “… At the end of the day when you have (two coordinators) doing it like Jim and James did, they share a lot of that responsibility. … And I had a lot of confidence in Dan and Glenn even last year. Not everybody knows what goes on behind the scenes — and I think that’s okay that not everybody knows that — but as the head coach you’re in all these meetings, you’re in on all these decisions. You know how much involved Dan Lanning and Glenn Schumann are in the game planning process. … So I have a lot of confidence in those two guys, which is why they got hired.”

So it sounds like this was pretty much the plan all along. But we can’t be entirely sure.

Smart also hired Todd Hartley, a former Georgia staffer to coach tight ends, and Charlton Warren to coach defensive backs. Only Warren is a true newbie to the whole “Georgia Way” phenomenon. Smart said he had not known Warren previously before he brought him in from the University of Florida.

Asked about it before the first spring practice, Reed was eager to find out what Warren — a graduate of the Air Force Academy — was going to be like on the practice field.

“I expect him to bring more energy and demand more out of us,” the third-year starter said. “He’s very strict about a lot of things, and I think that’s going to bring a lot of discipline to our secondary.”

The bottom line, though, is while all these new coaches will certainly bring some new wrinkles with them, the ultimate charge is to keep intact the overarching philosophies that have served Georgia so well under Smart.

“Look, we’ve been really successful at running the ball,” Smart said of the offense. “That’s who we are at Georgia. We’re not going to go recreate the wheel and say, ‘okay, now we’re going to open and be an empty spread team every down and go high tempo.’ You do what makes you successful.”

Welcome to football. The Georgia Bulldogs opened up their spring drills on Tuesday afternoon. This marks the fourth spring practice for Kirby Smart’s program in Athens. It was a chance to see new defensive coordinator Dan Lanning lead his position group. James Coley was at offensive coordinator. The Bulldogs also welcomed 14 early enrollees to […]

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Welcome to football.

The Georgia Bulldogs opened up their spring drills on Tuesday afternoon. This marks the fourth spring practice for Kirby Smart’s program in Athens.

It was a chance to see new defensive coordinator Dan Lanning lead his position group. James Coley was at offensive coordinator.

The Bulldogs also welcomed 14 early enrollees to the Woodruff practice fields on Thursday. DawgNation was there and it had four cameras trained on all of the lenses.

What did we see? Well, there were several 5-stars in action for the first time as Bulldogs. The afternoon session also marked the first time to check out new position coaches Todd Hartley (tight ends) and Charlton Warren (defensive backs) in Athens.

Georgia football: Check out the new recruits

Nolan Smith was the nation’s No. 1 prospect on the 247Sports Composite ratings for the 2019 cycle. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

Jermaine Johnson was the nation’s No. 1 junior college prospect for the class of 2019. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound junior carries that weight very well. He will be an OLB in Athens. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

New offensive coordinator James Coley works with the quarterbacks on Tuesday. That’s 4-star freshman early enrollee D’Wan Mathis to his left. (Chip Towers/DawgNation)

Tyrique Stevenson opens up in the open field on Tuesday on Day 1 of spring practice in Athens. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

Junior college cornerback signee DJ Daniel snares a ball during his first on-field practice as a Georgia Bulldog. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

Nolan Smith committed to UGA way back in January of 2017. It means something to him to play for his home state. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

4-star safety Lewis Cine wound up as the nation’s No. 3 prospect at his position for the 2019 cycle. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

Georgia football: A look at the new coaches

Charlton Warren worked his first spring practice at UGA on Tuesday. He’s back in his home state. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

New defensive coordinator Dan Lanning might now have the most talented OLB room he will ever employ in his coaching career. There are several future high NFL draft picks across that depth chart now at UGA. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said he doesn’t want new offensive coordinator James Coley to “recreate the wheel.” But Smart opened the door for some changes on Tuesday, explaining how Coley’s philosophy has impressed him. “Look, we’ve been really successful at running the ball, that’s who we are at Georgia, we’re not going […]

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ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said he doesn’t want new offensive coordinator James Coley to “recreate the wheel.”

But Smart opened the door for some changes on Tuesday, explaining how Coley’s philosophy has impressed him.

“Look, we’ve been really successful at running the ball, that’s who we are at Georgia, we’re not going to go recreate the wheel and say, ‘okay, now we’re going to open and be an empty spread team every down and go high tempo,’ “ Smart said.

But at the same time, Smart said, Coley said being a balanced team doesn’t necessarily mean a 50-50 ratio of run to pass plays.

“You do what makes you successful, and (Coley) had a meeting with the offense yesterday, which I sat in, and he talked about balance,” Smart said. “What is balance? People think balance means 50-50. Balance is not 50-50. Balance is being able to run the ball when you have to run the ball and being able to throw the ball when you have to throw the ball. So can you do both? Yes, you can be successful at both.

“That might be 70-30 one game and then 30-70 the other way the next game. So I think we’re going to be successful at that because I think that’s going to be based on having good players.”

Indeed, Smart said, Georgia will continue to build its offensive tendencies around its talent.

“I don’t think that we’re going to say, ‘okay, we’re throwing out everything we’ve done; we’re starting over,’ “ Smart said. “We’ve really had one coaching change on the offensive side of the ball, and every year when you go reinvent yourself, you say, okay, who are my best players, how are we going to get them the ball what are our strengths, what are our weaknesses, what are the things we’ve gotta really work on? And we’ve done that for almost two months now, because our signing class was pretty much done in January.

“We’ve been working on us and saying, okay, what can we do better, and I think James brings a lot of that to the table.”

ATHENS — His first spring he went toe-to-toe with an incumbent starter. His second year he competed with a 5-star signee ranked as the top quarterback in the country. Now a rising junior with 29 games under his belt as Georgia’s quarterback, Jake Fromm said he is entering his third spring with the Bulldogs with […]

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ATHENS — His first spring he went toe-to-toe with an incumbent starter. His second year he competed with a 5-star signee ranked as the top quarterback in the country. Now a rising junior with 29 games under his belt as Georgia’s quarterback, Jake Fromm said he is entering his third spring with the Bulldogs with the exact same mentality he went into those other two.

“It doesn’t change my preparation at all,” said Fromm, speaking with reporters a couple of hours before the Bulldogs took the field for spring practice. “I’m still technically competing for a job. I’m always going to strive to get better. Whether I’m competing against somebody specifically or competing with my self, I’m always going to strive to be the best I can be.”

Fromm has faced the highest degree of competition from the moment he walked onto Georgia’s campus as an early enrollee in January of 2017. He played second fiddle to Jacob Eason that first year and then had to beat out Justin Fields in Year 2 even though he’d led the Bulldogs into the national championship game just three months earlier.

Now Eason (Washington) and Fields (Ohio State) play for different teams. And the only others in the quarterback meeting room with him are walkon-turned-JUCO-transfer Stetson Bennett, 4-star signee and early enrollee Dwan Mathis and third-year walkon John Seter.

The dynamic is decidedly different, but Fromm said his attitude remains the same.

“I’m kind of in the role of a slight mentor,” Fromm said of his role. “I’m going to teach those guys things that I’ve learned from experience. Hopefully I can help those guys out, teach them how to communicate how to learn to learn, as far as the playbook. There’s a lot of things going on, a lot of things being thrown at them. I’m there. I’m a shoulder to lean on sometimes. I can’t wait to see those guys go out there and throw the football around.”

There have been several other significant changes on offense. The main one is the absence of offensive coordinator and veteran play-caller Jim Chaney. With Chaney’s departure for a significant pay raise at Tennessee, James Coley has been promoted into the role of sole offensive coordinator.

Coley, who had been a coordinator at Miami and Florida State previously, was Fromm’s position coach last year while also serving as c0-coordinator. So while much will stay the same, Fromm expects there will be a lot of different as well.

And for Fromm, different is good.

“For me, I want to learn new things,” Fromm said. “If we changed up the terminology every single year, I wouldn’t be opposed to that, because I like learning. I want to be the best I can at everything. It offers a different twist. It makes me come in every day hungry and on the edge.”

So solid is Fromm’s position on the team that coach Kirby Smart spent all of 10 seconds talking about him during his 25-minute spring practice news conference on Tuesday.

“Excited about Jake and the growth he’s been able to give us. He’s been a tremendous help with the other two quarterbacks that are here. Obviously, we have a lot of confidence in Jake in our offensive system and his understanding of running the thing.”

Yes, at this point Fromm has accumulated quite a body of work. He enters his third spring having completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 5,364 yards with 54 TDs and 13 interceptions. His career efficiency rating finishing fifth in the nation last season at 171..21 is a hardy 166.90.

As ever, though, Fromm’s plan is to be even better. To do that, he hopes to improve in the area of mobility and quarterback run while creating even more explosive plays as a passer.

No reason at this point to think Fromm won’t make that happen.

“I want to make my teammates the best I can, the team the best I can, I want to be successful,” he said. “I want to win a lot of football games, I want to win the SEC Championship, I want to win the national championship, I want to be great. So I’m going to come in and compete and strive to be the best I can be every day.”

ATHENS — Alabama football Nick Saban gave no indication he had any issues with Kirby Smart when interviewed by AJC-DawgNation at the CFP press conference in San Jose, Calif., last January. “We certainly have a lot of respect for Kirby and what he’s done at Georgia, and the very difficult games we’ve had playing them […]

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ATHENS — Alabama football Nick Saban gave no indication he had any issues with Kirby Smart when interviewed by AJC-DawgNation at the CFP press conference in San Jose, Calif., last January.

“We certainly have a lot of respect for Kirby and what he’s done at Georgia, and the very difficult games we’ve had playing them the last couple of years,” Saban said in the days leading up to the College Football Playoff Championship Game.

SEC Network host Paul Finebaum recently suggested Saban has a strained relationship with Smart, who since leaving his side as Alabama’s defensive coordinator has grown into the biggest threat to dethrone the Tide.

Smart was asked if his relationship with Saban was damaged during Georgia’s Tuesday press conference and essentially laughed it off.

Saban said a lot of people confuse the competitive element with relationships.

“It’s really not personal, you still have a certain amount of respect and admiration for them as people, the kind of person they are, the kind of values they have,” Saban said. “You appreciate what they’ve done to help you be successful, and you understand what they are trying to do to be successful, and you have a respect for that, and I don’t think that’s unhealthy in any way shape or form.”

Saban used his relationship with Bill Belichick as an example, having worked as an assistant coach under Belichick with the Cleveland Browns en route to facing him from the opposite sideline in the NFL.

“We were in the same division and we played two times a year,” said Saban, who coached the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East after Belichick had become the New England Patriots coach.

“It’s not personal …. when you compete against somebody, you want to do the best you can to try to help your team be successful and you respect them because they’re gonna do the same thing for their team.”

Saban admits it’s tough to face former assistants who know the ins and outs of his program, but he said that’s part of the coaching business.

“No doubt, they get to pick and choose which parts of what we do to utilize,” Saban said. “I did the same thing when I was coming up, whether it was George Perles at Michigan State or Bill Belichick with the Cleveland Browns.

The football season is still a little under six months away, but early betting lines have already projected Georgia football to be a comfortable favorite in some of its biggest games of the year. Per BetOnline, Georgia opens as an 11.5-point favorite against Notre Dame, a 4-point favorite over Florida, a 9.5-point favorite over Auburn […]

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The football season is still a little under six months away, but early betting lines have already projected Georgia football to be a comfortable favorite in some of its biggest games of the year.

Per BetOnline, Georgia opens as an 11.5-point favorite against Notre Dame, a 4-point favorite over Florida, a 9.5-point favorite over Auburn and a 13.5-point favorite over Texas A&M.

The Bulldogs take on Notre Dame first among the four teams listed, as the Bulldogs host them on Sept. 21. Georgia beat Notre Dame 20-19 in 2017 when the two teams played in South Bend, Ind. Both teams figure to be ranked in the top 10 when they meet.

Georgia then takes on Florida on Nov. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia has beaten Florida handily in each of the past two seasons. Like the Notre Dame game, this matchup figures to be a matchup beaten top-10 teams. It should also be one of the more interesting games of the season, as Dan Mullen and Georgia coach Kirby Smart have made it clear they aren’t exactly the best of friends.

The Auburn game is set for Nov. 16. It will be a revenge game of sorts for Georgia, as Auburn beat the Bulldogs 40-17 when the two teams last played in Auburn. Georgia has beaten Auburn twice since then.

The last game with an available line is set for Nov. 23. It will be the first time that Georgia and Texas A&M have met as SEC foes. The Aggies will be led by Jimbo Fisher, another Nick Saban disciple. The game against the Aggies will also be the final home game for Georgia’s 2019 season.

Smart met with the media on Tuesday for the first time and made it a point to say that he was not looking ahead to any games on the schedule. He added that he is focused on how Georgia can improve during spring practice.

The Bulldogs begin spring practice on Tuesday. Georgia’s spring game is set for April 20 and will air at 2 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart laughed when asked if he and Alabama coach Nick Saban had a strained relationship. “Absolutely not,” Smart said at the Bulldogs’ opening spring football press conference on Tuesday. “I don’t have any issue or any problem with any relationship with Nick. “As a matter of fact, I don’t […]

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ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart laughed when asked if he and Alabama coach Nick Saban had a strained relationship.

“Absolutely not,” Smart said at the Bulldogs’ opening spring football press conference on Tuesday. “I don’t have any issue or any problem with any relationship with Nick.

“As a matter of fact, I don’t think it’s done anything but grown with more respect since we played them twice.”

Alabama beat Georgia in the College Football Playoff Championship Game two years ago, and again in the SEC Championship Game last December.

SEC Network host Paul Finebaum had indicated there were issues between Saban and Smart this offseason.

“We have a great relationship,” Smart said of his friendship with Saban. “We’re not texting and calling buddy buddy, but I don’t do that with anybody.

“I have a lot of respect for him, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him, and there’s no problem with our relationship.”

ATHENS — Kirby Smart said Georgia redshirt freshman tailback Zamir White will be out for spring drills. “Zamir is coming back, doing really well, but he won’t be doing spring practice other than doing some stuff on the side, doing some running,” Smart said. “He’s done a lot offseason conditioning but he won’t be out […]

“Zamir is coming back, doing really well, but he won’t be doing spring practice other than doing some stuff on the side, doing some running,” Smart said. “He’s done a lot offseason conditioning but hewon’t be out there or cleared to go to practice.”

White was injured in August drills playing on special teams while covering a punt.

“Any time you have a non-contact ACL, and then you have a second one, you have to be careful,” Smart said. “When that happens, it makes you wonder if the kid can progress as fast as he did last time.

“He’s running really well, he’s just not going to be involved in he scrimmage. I probably won’t know until early fall camp. He’s been rehabbing really well.”

Smart also said the following players will be out:

DL Michail Carter (shoulder surgery)

LB Rian Davis, (knee surgery)

TE Ryland Goede (knee surgery)

RB Prather Hudson (shoulder surgery)

DL David Marshall (foot surgery)

LB Trezman Marshall (shoulder surgery)

DL Julian Rochester (knee surgery)

“We’ve also had a few hamstring injuries,” Smart said.

Smart added that tailback James Cook has been cleared after suffering a severe ankle injury that required surgery.

ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart elaborated on Dan Lanning and Glenn Schumann being promoted to defensive coordinator and co-defensive coordinator at Tuesday’s opening spring football press conference. “I’ve had a lot of confidence in Dan and Glenn, not everyone knows what goes on behind the scenes,” Smart said on Tuesday. “But as head […]

“I’ve had a lot of confidence in Dan and Glenn, not everyone knows what goes on behind the scenes,” Smart said on Tuesday. “But as head coach you are in all those meetings, and you know how involved Dan and Glenn are, and I have a lot of confidence in those two guys.”

Lanning was promoted to defensive coordinator on Feb. 15, some six weeks after Mel Tucker was hired to become Colorado’s new head coach.

Smart was conspicuously silent on Lanning’s promotion at the time, later saying it was “probably overrated.”

It’s never been a secret that junior safety Richard LeCounte was an incredible athlete. Rated as a 5-star prospect coming out of high school, LeCounte’s athleticism makes it easy to see why he led Georgia in tackles in 2018 with 74. But he isn’t just a great football player. In case you’d forgotten, LeCounte was […]

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It’s never been a secret that junior safety Richard LeCounte was an incredible athlete. Rated as a 5-star prospect coming out of high school, LeCounte’s athleticism makes it easy to see why he led Georgia in tackles in 2018 with 74.

But he isn’t just a great football player. In case you’d forgotten, LeCounte was a standout basketball player for Liberty County High School. ESPN took note of LeCounte’s basketball prowess, as it named him Georgia football’s top basketball player.

As a junior — his final year of basketball as he made the decision to enroll early at Georgia — LeCounte averaged 20 points per game, while also grabbing 5.6 rebounds and dishing 4.8 assists. LeCounte also showed off his defensive chops with 2.5 steals per game.

For his efforts, LeCounte was named co-Region 3-AAAA Player of the Year. He also helped Liberty County win a state title in basketball as a junior as well.

Of course, LeCounte isn’t the only basketball standout on Georgia’s team. 2019 5-star signee Travon Walker had a standout career for Upson Lee High School. As a senior, Walker averaged 16 points per game to go along with a staggering 12 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Walker won two state titles in high school.

Fellow 2019 signee Dwan Mathis has also recently shown off his basketball hoops as well. If you were to put together a basketball team of Georgia football players, it would be a very athletic and intimidating group, with the likes of LeCounte, Walker, Mathis and Brenton Cox, just to name some of the players who make up the team.

Georgia also has a number of former track and baseball standouts on the team as well. It seems like recruiting athletes who are talented across a number of sports is something that Georgia coach Kirby Smart looks for when recruiting players.

The Georgia men’s basketball team won’t be participating in March Madness this year, as the Bulldogs went 11-21. But Georgia is expected to bring in one of the top recruiting classes in the country for the 2019 cycle, and its led by the nation’s No. 2 overall player in Anthony Edwards.

ATHENS — It was fourth-and-11 with the ball at the 50-yard line, the SEC Championship Game tied at 28-28. Backup quarterback Justin Fields ran on the field as an up-back in the punt formation, and the Alabama players start pointing and talking, sounding the alarm that a fake was imminent. The Georgia players didn’t care; […]

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ATHENS — It was fourth-and-11 with the ball at the 50-yard line, the SEC Championship Game tied at 28-28.

Backup quarterback Justin Fields ran on the field as an up-back in the punt formation, and the Alabama players start pointing and talking, sounding the alarm that a fake was imminent.

The Georgia players didn’t care; they believed in their head coach, and they believed the play was going to work.

As important as anything that happens in spring drills, offseason workouts or fall practice, the key to another Bulldogs title run will be the players continued belief in Kirby Smart and his staff.

The Georgia fans might question the fake punt call, and opposing fans are sure to continue to ridicule it.

But the Bulldogs suited up at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last December believed in it then, and they believe in it now.

“We’d been practicing that play for two years; it was designed for Alabama’s punt safe,” former UGA long snapper Nick Moore said. “Nobody had ever seen that formation, we hadn’t remotely lined up in positions like that, ever.

“Our coaches are smart people, they do countless hours of film watching and game prep,” Moore continued. “Once we decided we were going to run the fake, and Justin ran on the field, we were just hoping they wouldn’t realize who was eligible (receivers) vs. who wasn’t eligible.”

It was Fields’ moment to make the sort of game-changing play that Georgia fans envisioned when the Bulldogs signed the 5-star.

But Alabama’s defense scrambled and handled the moment like a team that knew how to handle pressure situations — and Fields scrambled like a player that did not — and Georgia was on the wrong side of a historic football moment when Fields’ came up 9 yards short.

Smart, to his credit, explained what happened matter-of-factly in defeat, without drama nor remorse. A football play that didn’t work, thats what it was.

“Thought it was there, and it was there today,” Smart said. “We were going to snap the ball quick. We took too long to snap the ball. They didn’t have a guy covered. We had a guy wide open. We took so long to snap it, that they recognized it and got the guy covered late.

“It was probably 20, 30 yards (of) field position that — we came to win the game. We wanted to win the game.”

Indeed, Georgia brought an all-out mentality into the game, the players aware the fake was going to be called if at all possible.

That attack mentality helped the Bulldogs build a 28-14 lead before dominant Georgia edge rusher D’Andre Walker was lost for the game with an injury, and Alabama QB Jalen Hurts came off the bench to spark the Tide.

“Coach was trying to win the game, he didn’t want to tie the game, he didn’t want to go into overtime, he was playing to win,” Walker said, “and he felt that was the best call to put us in a situation to win, so he’s the head coach, and it is what it is.”

No regrets, no resent.

It was the same tone from Jayson Stanley, another departing senior with the license to say whatever he truly felt about the failed play.

“We could have made that play, we had a lot of preparation, but it didn’t go as planned,” Stanley said. “I was split out, my job was to run a slant, but by the time I looked over, the Alabama defense was in the backfield.

“We’d gone through that play (with Fields) in our special teams practice every day. We worked on it.”

Smart sells his players on the importance of winning special teams, and part of that equation, is making sure those same players know he’ll turn to them to execute.

“It keeps you on top of your game, knowing you have to practice and hone in on it every day,” Stanley said, “because you ever know when we might run a fake.”

Georgia very nearly ran a fake punt against Alabama in the national championship game in January of 2018, it turns out.

That situation was a fourth-and-6 at the Tide 39-yard line, the Bulldogs up 20-10.

“Brice Ramsey had the option to throw it or punt it, and he punted it,” Moore said. “I was the receiver, I was covered up, they had like four guys on me, they were in punt safe. That play wasn’t designed for punt safe.”

But the Fields’ fake punt was designed to work with Alabama in punt safe.

“Justin did the best he could — there’s a lot of responsibility for a young guy,” Moore said. “I went back and watched it 1,000 times, Alabama played it perfectly.

“We know Kirby is a competitor, like all of us, he’s not going to shy away from the moment.”

Elijah Holyfield confirmed, it’s what makes Smart special, and it’s why his players believe in him even while some fans can’t understand how having the fake punt in the game package helped the Bulldogs’ confidence and mentality.

Georgia snapper Nick Moore

]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/football/team-news/georgia-uga-kirby-smart-buy-in/feed0The national media is making a big mistake by sleeping on Nolan Smithhttps://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-nolan-smith-underrated
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-nolan-smith-underrated#respondTue, 19 Mar 2019 10:00:28 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=139240

Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. Georgia football fans shouldn’t overlook Nolan Smith When you’ve recruited as well as Georgia has, it’s easy to overlook some players. In the past […]

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Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more.

Georgia football fans shouldn’t overlook Nolan Smith

When you’ve recruited as well as Georgia has, it’s easy to overlook some players. In the past three recruiting classes, Georgia has signed 15 composite 5-star recruits. That number is by far the most in the country over that time span.

Because of that, some guys are bound to get lost in the shuffle. Just look at Georgia’s outside linebacker position. The Bulldogs brought in 5-star prospects Adam Anderson and Brenton Cox in the 2018 class. Then they landed the nation’s No. 1 JUCO player in Jermaine Johnson, whose also an outside linebacker. The lesser-hyped guys include the likes of Walter Grant and Azeez Ojulari — who have already made plenty of meaningful contributions at Georgia.

Georgia’s outside linebacker room is perhaps the most talented on the entire team. And that’s all before you even mention Nolan Smith.

Smith was the No. 1 overall player in the 2019 247Sports Composite ranking. He’s drawn comparisons to Von Miller and Khalil Mack. He ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at 225 pounds last March. For comparison, Sony Michel ran a 4.54 at 214 pounds. And yet, it seems like some aren’t pegging him to have the kind of impact that a recruit of his caliber should have.

He didn’t make ESPN’s list of true freshmen to watch for spring practice. And he was left off of ESPN’s list of players their most excited to watch in favor of the aforementioned Johnson. The national media missing on key players is nothing new, but it still is a little jarring to see Smith not get the attention that some of his highly rated peers get.

Maybe the lack of national praise comes from the fact that he was a long-time Georgia commit, as he pledged his services to Georgia almost a full two years before he signed. Or the fact that despite he was No. 1 in the composite rankings, no recruiting service had him as the No. 1 overall player. And again, maybe some of it is due to the fact that he’s entering a loaded position group.

But it’s not like Smith is just hype. He played his high school football for IMG Academy, which routinely played some of top teams in the nation. As a senior, he picked up 8.5 sacks in 8 games against elite competition. And in this year’s All-American Bowl, Smith picked up two sacks in the first quarter of the game before the opposing team began to double team him. He’s also taken home a number of national awards following his high school career.

Georgia has an obvious need for more pass rushers. It finished last in the SEC in sacks last year during the regular season. Smith seems like the perfect candidate to at the very least come in and provide more pressure to opposing quarterbacks.

He doesn’t need to come in right away and become the every down stalwart that D’Andre Walker was for Georgia in 2018. But he could very easily become what Walker was in 2017, where he shined as a pass rushing specialist. As a junior, Walker finished second on the team in sacks that year, despite playing behind both Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy.

At lot of the national pundits aren’t talking much about Smith right now. Heck, if you read the comment threads during DawgNation Daily you’ll see a lot of Georgia fans talk about how excited they are to see the likes of Anderson, Cox or 5-star wide receiver George Pickens.

But as hard as it might seem, it shouldn’t be lost that Georgia brought in a truly generational talent at a major position of need. People may not be clamoring for Smith now, but should he live to the hype, he won’t be slept on for long.

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart set to meet the media on Tuesday

For the first time since Georgia’s loss in the Sugar Bowl, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is set to address the media and answer questions about his team. The Bulldogs start spring practice on Tuesday, and it will be the first of 15 practices in the run-up to G-Day.

Despite not formally meeting with the media since January, there will be plenty for Smart to talk about. It’ll be the first chance he’ll be able to take questions on Georgia’s two new coordinators, as James Coley and Dan Lanning take over for Jim Chaney and Mel Tucker.

It’ll also be a chance to get some health updates on a number of players. Some of the players he’s most likely to get asked about include running back Zamir White, as well as defensive tackle Jordan Davis. White missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in August. Davis missed the Sugar Bowl with a back injury. Smart did make some public comments about Davis and his need to keep his weight in check.

Smart could also get asked about Justin Fields, as he has not answered questions on Fields since his departure from the program. Fields is now at Ohio State, and has been ruled immediately eligible for the 2019 season. Smart could also address the not so thinly veiled shot Dan Mullen took at him regarding the handling of the Fields transfer situation.

A lot has happened regarding Georgia since the last time Smart spoke in a press conference setting. It will be very interesting to see how elaborate and in-depth he goes on a number of topics pertaining to Georgia football.

When Justin Robinson committed to UGA, he felt it was time. He even sped up his timeline by about five months because he felt that he was ready. He did all the right things. Checked in with a parent. Avoided an impulse feeling. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior at Eagles Landing Christian Academy even visited his […]

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When Justin Robinson committed to UGA, he felt it was time. He even sped up his timeline by about five months because he felt that he was ready.

He did all the right things. Checked in with a parent. Avoided an impulse feeling.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior at Eagles Landing Christian Academy even visited his top schools in back-to-back weeks.

That recruiting story seems pretty neat and tidy. Especially for a young man who shined as a starting WR and a cornerback on a Class A state title team in 2018.

Justin Robinson is a 4-star WR prospect in the Class of 2020 from Eagles Landing Christian Academy. He committed to UGA on March 2. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

It reads very smooth for a young man who played his first season of varsity football last year at that. But that hasn’t stopped the rest of college football from kicking the tires on that pledge to Georgia.

THE REST OF COLLEGE FB: “Yeah, Georgia. We’re going to just wave the white flag here with this guy.”

That’s not happening. Rival schools are opting not to concede him to Cortez Hankton, Kirby Smart and UGA here, though.

“They are coming stronger,” he said. “I thought they would back up. It is surprising.”

What does he tell them?

“I just try to keep a good relationship,” Robinson said. ” Just in case something happens.”

Robinson said he still hears a lot from Notre Dame, Florida State, Boston College and Virginia.

“It is a lot,” he said. “Probably all the very same ones that were recruiting me before I chose Georgia.”

It has been fun being a Georgia commitment in his hometown now. He hears a lot from folks who he has never spoken to before he chose to play for UGA.

“It feels good,” he said. “Everyone seems to know me now. I’m that boy who is going to go play at Georgia now.”

A few quick things to know about Justin Robinson

Robinson updated a few things of note regarding his next few weeks. We’ll just share those topics with a few quick paragraphs of information.

It is hard to belive that Class of 2020 Georgia commit Justin Robinson has only played one season of high school football up to this point. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

He’s not quite at 100 percent health with a sore knee. He got in some reps with his Cam Newton 7-on-7 group at a Pylon national event at Kennesaw State University on Sunday. Robinson got in some work but then sat and rested for the late afternoon and evening rounds of bracket play.

Robinson does not currently plan to attend the Opening regional at Stockbridge High School on Monday.

Look for him to compete in the Under Armour Atlanta regional the following Saturday, though.

He will likely also take in a spring practice session at Georgia in the next month. Look for him and his family to also be in Athens for G-Day on April 20.

When he gets his chance to get in front of the evaluators, he will very likely impress. His size and skill set is way north of his current perch as the nation’s No. 62 wide receiver prospect for 2020 on the 247Sports Composite ratings.

Devon Gales, the former Southern University football player who was paralyzed in a 2015 game against UGA, is returning to football. Gales has been hired as an assistant football coach at Jefferson High School, near Athens, Ga., per accessWDUN.com’s Bo Wilson. The new job will be around 20 miles away from UGA. In unrelated news, […]

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Devon Gales, the former Southern University football player who was paralyzed in a 2015 game against UGA, is returning to football.

The new job will be around 20 miles away from UGA. In unrelated news, former UGA recruiting coordinator Bob Pittard is a social studies teacher at the same high school.

Per the website, the hiring of Gales was the idea of Jefferson superintendent Dr. John Jackson. It was after Gales shared his story with the Jefferson senior class.

“It was brought to our attention upon meeting this wonderful family that Devon missed the game and practices and being part of a football team in the game he still loved so much,” Jefferson coach Gene Cathcart told the website. “Dr. John Jackson had the idea of getting him involved in our program in some way and how our young men would benefit from his living example, character, strength in facing adversity and perseverance.”

Gales was already located in Jefferson. UGA donors and fans raised funds to build a handicapped-accessible house in Jefferson for Gales and his family.

ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart has emphasized several times in several ways that championship football requires all units working together. Indeed, much of the Bulldogs’ offensive and defensive scheming is predicated on Smart and his staff analyzing strengths and weaknesses and arriving at core alignments and plays. The sooner Georgia knows itself, the better, […]

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ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart has emphasized several times in several ways that championship football requires all units working together.

Indeed, much of the Bulldogs’ offensive and defensive scheming is predicated on Smart and his staff analyzing strengths and weaknesses and arriving at core alignments and plays.

ATHENS — Best I can tell, it has been my task to cover college football spring practices for about 26 of the 31 years that encompass my sportswriting career. There were a few years that I wasn’t covering college football. There were a few more that I bounced around and saw a little bit of […]

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ATHENS — Best I can tell, it has been my task to cover college football spring practices for about 26 of the 31 years that encompass my sportswriting career. There were a few years that I wasn’t covering college football. There were a few more that I bounced around and saw a little bit of a lot of different teams.

Most of time, though, I’ve been charged with covering all of Georgia’s spring practices. There have been times those practice sessions have been pretty interesting, some times that they’ve been incredibly dull and all over the place between. I’m anticipating the Bulldogs’ spring practice this year to be fairly intriguing.

There are a lot of reasons for that, but the main one is the influx of new players. Early enrollment was a fairly new concept in the 1990s and still a bit of a rarity then. Quarterback Eric Zeier was one of the first high-profile recruits to do it and it served him very well that first year. Zeier served notice at the 1991 G-Day Game that he was going to be a factor that season, and boy was he ever.

Since then, early enrollment has become a regular part of the recruiting process. Nowadays, everybody everywhere has at least a hand full of signees that come in early and get embedded with their respective teams since the first week of January. But it remains somewhat rare to see as many new players come in early — 14 — as Georgia has this year.

Fourteen is a lot. The most ever for the Bulldogs. They had 13 in that 2013 class that included 30 total signees (and experienced some of the worst attrition ever for Georgia football).

It’s not the most in college football. Alabama had 16 enroll early out of its 23-man recruiting class this year. But 14 is a bunch of new Bulldogs, no matter how one slices it up.

That in and of itself cranks up the competition factor. Georgia has several areas in which it’d love to get some impact from from some of these early arrivals. Quarterback, linebacker and defensive back immediately spring to mind.

I’d say receiver, too. But, oddly enough, the Bulldogs weren’t able to bring in any of their wideout signees early Dominick Blaylock happens to attend a school in Walton High that doesn’t allow it. Georgia has experienced the same thing with players it has signed out of Pace Academy, including Jamaree Salyer, Andrew Thomas and Trey Blount.

But that’s where spring ball has changed a good bit over the years. It’s much more competitive over the course of 15 practices than it used to be. Those sessions can go a long way to determining who is going to be starter in the fall. Not always, but often.

The ideal situation is getting as many positions locked down and decided in the spring, so those guys can work together as a unit as much as possible on a volunteer basis over the summer. That way they hit the ground running in preseason practice.

No doubt you’ve read numerous accounts of what various people believe the be the most pressing priorities of the spring for the Bulldogs. As for me, the order of importance goes this way:

Determine a receiver rotation;

Identify a backup quarterback;

Establish a starting center;

Settle on a right cornerback;

Figure out who else will help on defense.

Going with the receivers first is an easy call for me. It has been well-documented that the Bulldogs lost 106 catches and 20 touchdowns from last year’s wideouts, the majority of those being compiled by juniors Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman. But that number actually goes up by 35 catches and 3 touchdowns when tight end Isaac Nauta and running back Elijah Holyfield are included.

So the emphasis on throwing and catching the ball in spring practice is going to be heavy. It’s usually that way anyway this time of year, because it is rare for teams to pound on each other a lot this far away from the actual season. That said, Georgia will need to mindful of Jake Fromm’s arm health and be careful not to overthrow him.

To that end, the Bulldogs would like to come out with a good idea who is going to be Fromm’s primary backup. I wrote extensively on Sunday about redshirt sophomore Stetson Bennett coming back via junior college and giving Georgia an immediate competent presence with regard to already knowing the offensive system. But freshman Dwan Mathis remains an intriguing figure, and one can he sure that the Bulldogs will work hard and fast to determine exactly what they have in this 6-foot-6 athlete who has run a 10.8 100 meters.

Trey Hill leads the way to succeed Lamont Gaillard at center, but that’s not a given. As always, Sam Pittman probably suffer brain cramps from exploring all possibilities for determining the combination that results in the best five across the board.

The competition to succeed Deandre Baker at right cornerback certainly will be intriguing. But starting with elevating Tyson Campbell there as Georgia did in the bowl game is the first in what are all positive alternatives at all the secondary positions. If early enrollees such as JUCO transfer D.J. Daniel or Tyrique Stevenson end up winning out, all the better.

Same with outside linebackers. The recruiting at this position has been other-worldly. Between the 5-stars that are coming back and the ones coming in, something is going to have

Conversely, that’s why I don’t list inside linebackers here. Certainly the Bulldogs want higher-level play than it got from the returnees last season. But I believe all the existing alternatives to be better than adequate and not necessarily paramount to Georgia’s cause. And as exciting a prospect as is Nakobe Dean, ranked the No. 1 inside linebacker in America, I always think back to Roquan Smith’s struggles as a true freshman and how it was late in his sophomore season before he emerged as the star he actually was.

Same on the D-line, same on the O-line, same in the offensive backfield, same on special teams.

The rest of it is very much organic. That is, it’ll come together naturally through the teaching of concepts and fundamentals. The Bulldogs seek competition and improvement, but they’ll be able to go to war with they’ve got.

What you’re NOT going to see is running back D’Andre Swift get much in the way of contact. I highly doubt you’ll see Zamir White get any at all. White, the heralded 2018 signee known as Zeus, is less than seven months removed from a second knee surgery that came eight months after the first. The Bulldogs will be very interested in seeing what the former No. 1 back in America can do, but that can wait until late summer, when he will have had a year to rehab and recover.

Maybe the most important factor will be the Bulldogs getting used to some new voices and concepts from the coaching staff. For the first time since Kirby Smart has been head coach, somebody other than Jim Chaney or Mel Tucker will be putting together the practice script for the offense and defense, respectively.

That said, I suspect it won’t change significantly from what Georgia has been doing the last four years. That’s why James Coley, Dan Lanning and Glenn Schumann were appointed coordinators. They’re going to give Smart what he wants, which is more of the same.

But it’s that — the newness factor — that’s going to make this spring so fun and interesting. And then, of course, they’ll tear up all the depth charts and start from scratch in August.

ATHENS — Georgia football might have had the best secondary in the nation last season, led by Thorpe Award winner Deandre Baker. The Bulldogs might once again have the best secondary in the nation in 2019, even with Baker moving on to the NFL. A mix of elite talent and coaching returns to Georgia, with […]

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ATHENS — Georgia football might have had the best secondary in the nation last season, led by Thorpe Award winner Deandre Baker.

The Bulldogs might once again have the best secondary in the nation in 2019, even with Baker moving on to the NFL.

A mix of elite talent and coaching returns to Georgia, with Kirby Smart and new secondary coach Charlton Warren working with a deep and experienced group.

ATHENS — Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean said attrition is part of transforming a program, and on Monday Teshaun Hightower announced he’s leaving the Bulldogs. Hightower, a 6-foot-5 guard from Lithonia, scored a season-high 18 points in UGA’s 98-88 win over Texas this season. Dawg nation, I want to thank you for a great two […]

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ATHENS — Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean said attrition is part of transforming a program, and on Monday Teshaun Hightower announced he’s leaving the Bulldogs.

Hightower, a 6-foot-5 guard from Lithonia, scored a season-high 18 points in UGA’s 98-88 win over Texas this season.

Dawg nation,
I want to thank you for a great two years, Athens will always have a special place in my heart. I have grown tremendously throughout my journey in Athens. My teammates will allows be my brothers, It has been a pleasure. God Bless.pic.twitter.com/CmBPa7OcF9

Hightower started 17 of the 29 games he played this season, averaging 6.6 points per contest. Hightower shot at a 28.4-percent clip from beyond the 3-point arc with 51 turnovers and 43 assists.

“I think attrition is part of the game,” Crean said. “From college football, college baseball, coulee basketball, women’s basketball.

“The bottom line for me is everybody gets coached, every day. There’s opportunities you take advantage of, or you don’t. There are decisions that have to be made as you go through it, and that becomes part of it.”

Hightower did not play in three of the final four games.

Freshman guard JoJo Toppin was also held out of action for the 14th time in the final 19 games of the season.

“I really don’t know, my mind can’t wander there right now,”Toppin told AJC-DawgNation.com following the SEC tournament, asked of his future in the program. “This is a big loss, it hurts. Really not thinking about that right now, we just lost six seniors. I can’t think about the future right now.”

Georgia baseball continued its excellent start to the 2019 season, as the Bulldogs swept South Carolina to open SEC play. The Bulldogs picked a 6-1 win on Friday after another dominant outing from sophomore pitcher Emerson Hancock. He threw 7.0 innings while striking out 12 and giving up only 4 hits. Georgia than picked up […]

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Georgia baseball continued its excellent start to the 2019 season, as the Bulldogs swept South Carolina to open SEC play.

The Bulldogs picked a 6-1 win on Friday after another dominant outing from sophomore pitcher Emerson Hancock. He threw 7.0 innings while striking out 12 and giving up only 4 hits.

Georgia than picked up two come from behind wins on Saturday and Sunday. The Bulldogs fell behind 5-1 in the Saturday game only to come back and hold on for an 8-7 win. Georgia then picked up its final win on Sunday with a four-run ninth inning to win 4-2. Tucker Maxwell hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to give Georgia the win.

“They guys never panicked. We have a veteran group, a lot of older guys who support each other,” Georgia baseball coach Scott Stricklin said. “Going into the ninth, we had one hit and then Mason (Meadows) gets the double and everyone came through. Credit Tony (Locey) for a great start and Zac (Kristofak) comes in and keeps it a 1-0 game to give us a chance. ”

After sweeping the Gamecocks, the Bulldogs moved up to No. 5 in D1baseball’s Top-25 poll. Among SEC teams, only Mississippi State is ranked higher.

The Bulldogs (18-2, 3-0) host Georgia State on Tuesday and host No. 10 LSU this weekend.

Georgia golf wins Linger Langer Invitational, Spencer Ralston medals

The Georgia men’s golf team also had a standout weekend, as they took home the team tournament title at the Linger Langer Invitational.

The Bulldogs shot 11-under in the final round to finish at 19-under for the tournament. Junior Spencer Ralston shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday to finish at 11-under for the tournament. It was the first career win for Ralston.

“I could not be prouder of this group of guys,” Georgia head coach Chris Haack said. “We were focused throughout and we cleaned some things up along the way to give ourselves a chance. I am so happy for Spencer as well. He has been a tremendous ambassador for Georgia golf during his career, so it’s great that he can add this to his resume. This team has really come together and found great chemistry, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we fare coming down the stretch.”

This is the second win of the spring season for the Georgia golf team. To win the tournament, Georgia beat out Liberty, Louisville and Alabama. The team returns to action in April, as it will participate in the Clemson Invitational.

Georgia gymnastics enters the SEC tournament as the No. 3 seed

After picking up a win over Utah in its final home meet of the regular season, the GymDogs will enter the SEC tournament as the No. 3 seed and compete in the evening session. The 2019 SEC Gymnastics Tournament will be held in New Orleans and take place this Saturday.

]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/baseball/georgia-baseball-south-carolina/feed0Elite Texas OT Chad Lindberg can see himself being very successful at UGAhttps://www.dawgnation.com/football/recruiting/elite-texas-ot-chad-lindberg-can-see-himself-being-very-successful-at-uga
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/recruiting/elite-texas-ot-chad-lindberg-can-see-himself-being-very-successful-at-uga#respondMon, 18 Mar 2019 14:15:24 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=139201

Want to attack every day with the latest UGA football recruiting info? That’s what the Intel brings at least four days a week. The play sheet today calls for a visit recap with 6-foot-6 Texas OT Chad Lindberg. Chad Lindberg visited UGA last Thursday. It was basically a ghost campus. Everyone had scooted South to […]

Chad Lindberg visited UGA last Thursday. It was basically a ghost campus.

Everyone had scooted South to find themselves a fishing hole, a weight room or a beach. Or all of the above.

That suited Sam Pittman and Lindberg just fine. Those two had a lot of one-on-one time along the visit. When asked to name what he liked best about Georgia coming out of that visit, the 6-foot-6 Texan kept it simple.

“Sam Pittman,” Lindberg replied.

When asked to name the second-best thing, Lindberg couldn’t really equate any one thing.

But he did also note the food in Athens in really good. That’s the type of line in a story that deserves an emoji. Especially since we are writing about an offensive tackle who’s been to “Five” more than some UGA freshmen by now.

Chad Lindberg visited UGA for the second time last Thursday. His next trip will “probably” be a spring official. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

“Been there twice now and I could live off the uptown shrimp,” he said.

With that, he passed the polygraph for any offensive line prospect. When they bring up the food, they are speaking the truth.

There were a lot of things for the nation’s No. 8 OT prospect did mention, though.

“It wasn’t a typical trip except for going to the stadium,” he told DawgNation. “Ninety percent of the time was talking football in the office.”

Pittman was in his answer about how he felt about UGA after the visit. That name popped again in regard to what he learned the most about the program on this specific tour.

When asked what he was thinking about as his car pulled away from the facility, it wasn’t a broken record. This is 2019. Let’s call it a playlist answer on repeat.

“An answer to all three is I could see myself playing for Georgia under coach Pittman and being very successful,” he said.

Given his status as a major recruit, he’s done this many times. he 247Sports “Crystal Balls” all point him to his home state Longhorns. He even made a trip to UGA last April. Georgia coach Kirby Smart sat down and chatted with him for at least 30 minutes about academics.

“I’ve done this full visit before,” he told DawgNation. “This was really just talking with Coach Pittman the whole time. He knows how to produce NFL guys.”

This was a real visit. Lots of talking ball. Lindberg said he didn’t even bother to take any pics on this trip.

Chad Linberg breaks down why Sam Pittman is so effective

Pittman is highly effective on the trail. His guys connect with him. When his players at Arkansas went to his house and begged him to turn down the Georgia job, this was probably what everyone should have expected to see in Athens.

It has.

It became pretty much standard for folks to read something along those lines in this space around December of 2017. Offensive line recruit really impressed by Sam Pittman. That seems like par now for every story about a Pittman target.

Sam Pittman. An effective tool for UGA in the recruiting process of another elite OL prospect. This trend has been going strong since 2017. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)

That was in the Isaiah Wilson story and the Andrew Thomas stories. The same for E.J. Price. Then came Owen Condon, Cade Mays, Warren Ericson, Trey Hill and Jamaree Salyer in 2018.

Warren McClendon, Xavier Truss and Clay Webb all basically said “Amen” to that in 2019.

It is akin to traffic on GA Hwy. 316 on gamedays. It kind of hogs the road in every O-line recruit’s story.

Somewhere along every discussion about depth at a certain spot and a film review, it seems like a great number of these young men find themselves wanting to play for him. That’s even before they hear about his track record with NFL guys.

Why is Pittman so good at this? It seems like every recruit has their own answer here.

Lindberg has his own there.

“His recent history of turning high potential, low skill guys into first-round picks,” Lindberg told DawgNation. “He’s figured out how to develop.”

The position fit at Georgia sounds typical with the 2020 class. Look for the Bulldogs to sign four offensive linemen. A fifth would be a prospect the program just could not turn away. The sampling of feedback would be that two tackles and two combo guard-tackles would be the ideal.

“Pittman sees me as a tackle mainly but plays his guys all around the ball,” Lindberg told DawgNation.

How hard will it be for Lindberg to leave Texas? The feeling out there is it might take a monster recruiting effort to get him away from Texas, Texas A&M or Oklahoma or anywhere in Big 12 country.

Is that reality? Does he want to play close to home?

“It’s not a huge factor to me because it is not like you really have a lot of time to go home except for times that everyone goes home,” he said.”

Breaking down Chad Lindberg’s Texas-sized GPA

To sum the visit up, this wasn’t the first time where he felt that he could see himself at a place like UGA.

“I’ve felt the same way now but this solidified it,” Lindberg said.

He told DawgNation back in January that UGA was just off his top-tier group.

Lindberg said he would “probably” do a spring official to UGA. That makes G-Day an ideal save the date there. He has very few questions now about the program after his latest visit.

“I’d like to see a game if I can,” he said.

When we previewed the Lindberg visit last week, the biggest response from readers on Twitter was his Texas-sized GPA. There must have been at least 35 responses to it across the various email, message board or social channels.

The 5.43 GPA caught more attention than his 55-plus heaves with the shot put. Lindberg was asked to kindly share a little more light on that one.

He even provided his class standing at Clear Creek High in East Texas.

“We’re on a 6.0 scale,” he explained. “Its actually gone down to a 5.38 but I rank 27 out of 581.”

Travon Walker is going to be a problem in the SEC

We’re going to curate a few interesting social media posts from over the weekend.

Let’s first take a look at another eye-opening workout reel from 5-star signee Travon Walker. He’s working here with former Georgia Bulldog Marcus Howard.

The part where he goes through the bags is where one must remind themselves that they are looking at a 6-foot-5 and 290-ish pound defensive tackle prospect. He was rated as the nation’s No. 2 DT prospect for the 2020 cycle by the 247Sports composite.

He also visited Tennessee as well. I’m not totally sold on the mutual interest there with UGA and Johnson. At least not yet.

But I can see where these moves made by a true anchor recruit for the Ohio State class might start to wear on that program. It doesn’t seem like a move that long-time commits like Johnson used to do when they were committed to the Buckeyes.

Especially for a young man from the state of Ohio. I’d have to think this is part of the “wait and see” for that elite program under first-year full-time head coach Ryan Day.

Remember all that stuff we wrote about Sam Pittman earlier? He is also recruiting Paris Johnson, Jr. for the program, too. That visit went well. There’s no doubt about. Will UGA get a second? Will that trip not be connected along a series of other trips?

But the pro agility showing was what really stood out for me. It takes a special athlete to crack 4.10 seconds in the 5-10-5 event. Evans posted a 3.91 showing at a junior in 2018.

Georgia receiver signee Dominick Blaylock timed a 4.0 last year. Elite junior WR target Jermaine Burton came up with a 4.26 in 2018 and 4.13 in 2019. 5-star freshman OLB Nolan Smith put up a 4.15 at 234 pounds in near-freezing temps in 2018.

That should place into perspective what that 3.84 means with Evans. That seems like a pre-qualification for ninja school for me.

Ninja school for Jermaine Burton?

It feels right to close with the topic of ninja school and boys will be boys and Jermaine Burton. This Instagram post reminds me of some of the tomfooleries I was guilty of growing up around swimming pools.

Let’s set aside the parenting moment here for Burton. This is an impressive running broad jump with more than a smidge of fear factor and consequences attached to it.

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March Madness is officially here. So why not join in on the fun with DawgNation and take part in the DawgNation bracket challenge?

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]]>https://www.dawgnation.com/football/team-news/dawgnation-bracket-challenge/feed0These five players have the most to gain for Georgia’s spring practicehttps://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-spring-practice-nolan-smith
https://www.dawgnation.com/football/georgia-football-spring-practice-nolan-smith#respondMon, 18 Mar 2019 12:01:28 +0000http://www.dawgnation.com/?p=139184

Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more. Georgia football players with the most to gain during spring practice Spring football is set to begin this week for the Georgia Bulldogs. For […]

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Welcome to Good Day, UGA, your one-stop shop for Georgia football news and takes. Check us out every weekday morning for everything you need to know about Georgia football, recruiting, basketball and more.

Georgia football players with the most to gain during spring practice

Spring football is set to begin this week for the Georgia Bulldogs. For some, like quarterback Jake Fromm or safety JR Reed, the goal is just to make it through the 15 practices without picking up an injury and get better. But for others, this spring practice will go a long way in determining how often some players get on the field come this fall.

So with that in mind, below are just some of the names we think could really help themselves with a strong spring practice:

John FitzPatrick, redshirt freshman tight end

Tight end might be Georgia’s most glaring hole on the roster. While the Bulldogs do have one proven option in senior Charlie Woerner, he’s the only tight end on the roster with more than 10 career catches. That’s why FitzPatrick has a chance to show he can be a reliable second tight end for Georgia this spring and beyond.

FitzPatrick figures to get plenty of reps this spring, given the lack of depth at tight end. Georgia did have 4-star freshman Ryland Goede enroll early, but he’s coming off an ACL injury and won’t be 100 percent for spring ball. Eli Wolf, a tight end who transferred from Tennessee, won’t arrive until this summer. FiztPatrick redshirted his first year at Georgia after being a 3-star recruit coming out of The Marist School in Atlanta.

A big spring from FitzPatrick could lead to plenty of playing time this fall. It would also alleviate some of the concerns about the tight end position, which is now being led by new tight ends coach Todd Hartley.

Demetris Robertson, junior wide receiver

You could really pick any wide receiver not named Jeremiah Holloman here. Georgia lost three of its top four wide receivers from the 2018 team, meaning there are a lot of catches to be had.

And Georgia isn’t lacking for names at the position, given it’ll bring back the likes of Tyler Simmons, Kearis Jackson, Tommy Bush and Matt Landers. But we think Robertson might have a real opportunity to standout amongst Georgia’s wide receivers.

Robertson’s first year with Georgia didn’t go as planned, as the former 5-star recruit did not record a single catch. Robertson didn’t arrive at Georgia until late in the summer and it wasn’t even clear if he’d be eligible to play in 2018 until mid-August. Now with a full offseason with the program, Robertson is someone who could really shine this spring if he can put everything together.

And it would really benefit Robertson, and all of the Georgia wide receivers, to play and practice well this spring. Georgia is bringing in quite a bit of receiving talent over the summer, as George Pickens, Dominick Blaylock and Makiya Tongue will all be enrolling. Pickens and Blaylock were top-40 national recruits for the 2019 class, while Tongue was also a highly touted 4-star prospect.

Trey Hill, sophomore center

Georgia must replace center Lamont Gaillard. It’s the only opening on the offensive line this spring, as Georgia brings back a number of offensive linemen with starting experience.

Hill has a chance to cement his starting spot at center with a strong spring practice. When Gaillard went down last year in the Kentucky game, Hill slid into to his spot and finished the game. The now-sophomore did have some issues with snapping the ball that day, but from a blocking perspective, there was almost no drop off.

There will be some competition at center, as Jamaree Salyer and Warren Ericson also figure to get snaps at the position. Georgia’s had a strong tradition of centers dating back almost a decade now, and Hill has an excellent chance to continue that line. It also may be hard for Hill to leapfrog either Ben Cleveland, Solomon Kindley and Cade Mays at either of the offensive guard spots, making it imperative he impress at center.

Nolan Smith, freshman outside linebacker

There are a lot of options at outside linebacker, much like wide receiver. We think Smith — the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle — could validate his hype with a strong spring practice.

It’s no secret that Georgia needs to a better job of getting after the quarterback this year, as the Bulldogs had just 20 sacks in the regular season last year. Georgia has a number of highly touted players who could pressure the quarterback, but there wasn’t a ton of production outside of D’Andre Walker last year, and he’s now off to the NFL draft.

Smith isn’t the only elite prospect on the team, as sophomores Brenton Cox and Adam Anderson were both 5-star prospects. Smith doesn’t necessarily need to prove himself as an every down player to start his Georgia career. But if he could carve out a role similar to what Walker did in 2017 — when he finished second on the team sacks serving mostly as a situational pass rusher— Georgia’s defense could be even better in 2019 than it was in 2018.

Tyson Campbell, sophomore cornerback

Someone has to replace Deandre Baker, who won the Thorpe Award in 2018 for being college football’s top defensive back. Campbell figures to get the first real crack at it.

Assuming Eric Stokes still holds down his spot from last year, Campbell seems like the returning player most likely to fill in for Baker. Campbell made 10 starts as freshman, but was benched late in the year in favor of Stokes.

Campbell showed improvements when he returned to the starting line-up against Texas. He’s going to have to show this spring he’s made another leap to hold off talented cornerback prospects like Tyrique Stevenson and DJ Daniel. Those two are both members of Georgia’s 2019 recruiting class who have already enrolled early at Georgia.

Over spring break, a number of Georgia football players made it a point to post their workouts to Twitter, as part of the Do More challenge started by Kirby Smart and strength coach Scott Sinclair. Jake Fromm was not one of those players. That was until Sunday night, when Fromm posted a video of himself […]

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Over spring break, a number of Georgia football players made it a point to post their workouts to Twitter, as part of the Do More challenge started by Kirby Smart and strength coach Scott Sinclair. Jake Fromm was not one of those players.

That was until Sunday night, when Fromm posted a video of himself with a pretty large fish he caught at some point over his week off. And Fromm took the opportunity to spin his fishing trip into a workout.

“I’m supposed to be working out instead of fishing,” Fromm said. “Getting a little bit of shoulder prehab in. Also working on a little bit of hand grip and bicep curls. And we’re catching big ones out here boys.”

You can check out Fromm’s full video below. It’s a pretty funny clip from the Georgia quarterback.

And it seems safe to say that Fromm did not have any boating related injuries over spring break. Last off-season, Fromm had two different accidents while out on the water. He got a fishing lure stuck in his leg in May, and then broke his non-throwing hand in a wake boarding accident later on in the summer.

Fromm will enter Georgia’s spring practice as the unquestioned starting quarterback for the first time. In each of the last two seasons, Fromm has beaten out 5-star quarterbacks in Jacob Eason and Justin Fields, who have both since transferred. As a sophomore, Fromm threw for 30 touchdowns compared to just 6 interceptions, while leading Georgia football to another top-10 ranking and SEC championship game appearance.

2019 will be a big year for Fromm, as a strong junior season could propel him to become a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Of course, Fromm’s main goal is to win the SEC East, and then the SEC and then a national championship. And if he does all that, everything will work itself out.

Fromm and the rest of his teammates begin spring practice on Tuesday. The Bulldogs will have their annual spring game on April 20.

Georgia running back Zamir White has shown off some impressive photos from his training routine recently, but there’s another image UGA fans are hoping to see soon. That’s the subject of today’s DN90. White undoubtedly has committed himself to being in top physical condition, and it seems reasonable to assume he’s taking that same approach […]

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Georgia running back Zamir White has shown off some impressive photos from his training routine recently, but there’s another image UGA fans are hoping to see soon.

That’s the subject of today’s DN90.

White undoubtedly has committed himself to being in top physical condition, and it seems reasonable to assume he’s taking that same approach to his rehab from an ACL injury suffered last summer — his second tear in the last two years.

The pictures of White in the weight room bring to mind the video White released last year of a kickboxing routine shortly after his first knee injury that seemingly indicated his leg was well on its way to being ready for the 2018 season.

UGA fans would love to see something like that again soon.

Of course, it’s also important to note that White doesn’t need to rush his recovery — for UGA’s sake or his own.

Spring practice starts Tuesday, but the season is still months away. The Bulldogs also have enough depth at the running back position that UGA could conceivably play part of the year without White at 100 percent and still have a dynamic rushing offense.

However, White — due to his thrilling high school highlights and status as former No. 1 recruit at his position — is justifiably one of the top fan favorites on the team. That means that even if there’s no need for White to hurry, there will still be a lot of anticipation for his return.

There will also be plenty of excitement along the way each time he drops a hint about the state of his recovery.

For more on what White has shown on social media recently, check out the video linked above.

Matthew Boling, who has signed a track scholarship with UGA, posted the nation’s fastest time in the 100 meters for a high school athlete this weekend. The speedster was clocked in the 100 at 10.22 seconds in the TSU Relays. It was a personal record for Boling, who is from Houston. On top of that, […]

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Matthew Boling, who has signed a track scholarship with UGA, posted the nation’s fastest time in the 100 meters for a high school athlete this weekend.

The speedster was clocked in the 100 at 10.22 seconds in the TSU Relays. It was a personal record for Boling, who is from Houston.

On top of that, Boling entered the meet with the fastest 200-meter time in the nation for a high schooler. He bested that on Saturday by sprinting the 200 in 20.58 seconds – also a personal record.

At one point within the last year, Boling also had the nation’s fastest time in the 400 meters.

ATHENS – The signing of Stetson Bennett IV didn’t produce the biggest of headlines for Georgia on national signing day. All those 5-stars that helped the Bulldogs earn a No. 2 national ranking did that. But as UGA prepares to open spring practice on Tuesday, there might not be a more important new player in […]

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ATHENS – The signing of Stetson Bennett IV didn’t produce the biggest of headlines for Georgia on national signing day.

All those 5-stars that helped the Bulldogs earn a No. 2 national ranking did that. But as UGA prepares to open spring practice on Tuesday, there might not be a more important new player in camp.

Bennett plays quarterback. He returns to Georgia after a brief hiatus in which he headed to Ellisville, Miss., to play for Jones County Junior College. The fact that he left as a walk-on and returns on full scholarship is noteworthy.

Now a redshirt sophomore, Bennett will enter spring ball as Georgia’s No. 2 quarterback behind junior Jake Fromm. Technically, he’ll share that spot with freshman early enrollee Dwan Mathis, and coach Kirby Smart will insist there is no hierarchical distinction between the two. But make no mistake about it, should Fromm encounter any sort of misfortune, it’s going to be Bennett who trots out there first to try to keep the Bulldogs’ high-flying offense running.

More on the whys about that later. Simply stated, those who have followed Bennett the closest these last few years insist Georgia folks aren’t excited enough about this 5-foot-11, 190-pound quarterback being back on campus.

Bennett’s high school coach leads that chorus.

“He’s a Baker Mayfield is what he is,” said Sean Pender, who coached Bennett at Pierce County High School and has known him since he was a fourth grader. “He’ll prove that once he gets out there. He’s a lot faster than people think he is. He has that same confidence and air about him. He’s got a laser-accurate arm and he’s wicked smart.”

Yes, but what about that size, or lack of it? Surely, he can’t expect to excel in the rugged SEC under 6 feet fall?

“He’s right at 6-foot, but he’s got the hands of somebody who’s 6-4,” Pender said. “He has big hands and can really grip the ball and rip it.”

Said Steve Buckley, who coached Bennett last fall at Jones County: “Stet has the arm, legs, feet and hands to be a really, really good quarterback. He’s 5-11½; I’ve measured him. So, can a 5-11½ quarterback play? Absolutely. One’s about picked in the first round if I’m not mistaken and he might be shorter than that.”

That’d be Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, who some project as No. 1 pick in next month’s NFL draft. Murray measured 5-foot-10 and 1/8-inch at the NFL combine last month. Mayfield measured 6-foot and 3/8-inch before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round a year ago.

But comparing Bennett to college football’s last two Heisman Trophy winners, isn’t that a little hyperbolic?

“I can’t tell you that he’s going to be Kyler Murray or Baker Mayfield; that’s not fair,” Buckley said. “I just think that Stet has the skill set and a high, high football IQ – understands checks, understand protections, understood more than we were able to do last year, honestly – to be a very good college quarterback.”

Self belief is Bennett’s fuel

More important than that, Bennett believes in himself. That’s why he took this circuitous route to get back to where he started at Georgia.

If and when Bennett gets a chance to prove himself on the field with the Bulldogs remains to be seen. Fromm remains firmly entrenched at the moment, and UGA continues to recruit blue-chip quarterbacks every year. Most of them arrive prototypical in size and pedigree, such as the 6-foot-6, 4-star that is Mathis and the guys the Bulldogs are pursuing for 2020.

But that’s OK with Bennett. He is willing to give Georgia another shot, and the Bulldogs believe Bennett is worth another look. They backed that up this time with a full scholarship and the promise of fair shot in competition.

Bennett left Georgia feeling like he didn’t get that. The 2017 season was one thing. Bennett showed up from Pierce County High as an unheradled preferred walkon charged only with leading the scout team and giving Georgia’s defense a good look. He did such a good job of it that he earned the praise of defensive coaches and teammates in preparation for the College Football Playoff.

“Stetson Bennett is a beast, man,” Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker said as the Bulldogs prepared to face Mayfield and Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl. “Stetson Bennett puts a lot of pressure on our defense because he is extremely quick, he’s fast and he can throw. He can throw in the pocket and he can throw on the run, and he’s very, very competitive.”

Former scout team quarterback Stetson Bennett looked good in last year’s G-Day Game. (Andy Harrison/UGA Athletics)

After the season, Bennett was told he’d be able to compete for Georgia’s backup quarterback job in 2018. That’s not what happened, though. Georgia signed Justin Fields out of Harrison and Bennett felt the coveted 5-star signee was thrust ahead of him on the depth chart without backing it up with his play on the practice field.

All that came to a head in the 2018 G-Day Game. Fields indeed filled the role as No. 2 quarterback and looked good doing it as he passed for 207 yards and a touchdown against the No. 2 defense and other backups. Bennett went third and completed 5-of-9 for 73 yards against the No. 1 defense.

Bennett got the message and decided he’d be better off trying to make his way elsewhere.

“He thought he’d have a legitimate shot for the back-up role, but when Justin came there he didn’t really get that chance,” Pender said. “Justin was put right in front of him, and Stet decided ‘maybe Georgia’s not the place for me.’”

Bennett’s father, Stetson Bennett III, confirmed that account.

“He turned down 20 offers to fulfill his childhood dream at Georgia,” he said. “But then he had re-assess it at the end of the first year. And that’s what he did.”

When Bennett informed Smart he planned to leave, the Bulldogs came up with a scholarship to try to keep Bennett. But at that point it was less about a grant-in-aid than it was about simply playing.

“We talked about it after spring and he said, ‘Daddy, I just want to play,'” his father said. “I said, ‘Well, son, let’s go play.’ Obviously, there’s no bad blood on either side. He just felt he was good enough to play somewhere, so he went and played somewhere.”

That somewhere ended up being Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Miss. The Bobcats were the first school to step up and say they wanted him, that he’d be on scholarship and that he’d play.

“When I got word that Stet was leaving, I didn’t know who he was,” said Buckley, who was offensive coordinator at Southern Miss for many years. “But I watched his tape and he had the skill set I was looking for. I told him to come on. I think Kirby offered him a scholarship to stay, but all he really wanted was a chance to play. I told him we’d give him that.”

Bennett started all 12 games at quarterback for the Bobocats, leading the freshmen-laden team to a 10-2 record and an appearance in the Mississippi JUCO championship game. They lost a close-fought heart-breaker with three fumbles inside the opponents’ 20.

About those junior college numbers

Bennett completed 145 of 259 passes for 1,840 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Bobcats. But he also had 14 interceptions, and that’s the biggest criticism he gets from discerning fans and skeptical recruiting analysts. But while that touchdown-to-interception ratio is nothing to write home about, to judge Bennett on those numbers requires some context.

Bennett had to overcome labrum surgery on his throwing shoulder before he could get going at Jones County Junior College. (Family photo)

First, it’s important to know the ground rules of junior college ball in Mississippi. Teams there get 55 scholarships, but only eight of those can go to players from outside Mississippi. The out-of-state scholarship distribution typically goes this way: 1 quarterback, 1 running back, 1 wide receiver, 1 linebacker, 2 defensive linemen and 2 defensive backs.

Generally, they stay in-state with offensive linemen, of which 14 schools have to come up with five apiece. All but one of the Bobcats’ linemen were freshmen. So were all eight of the wideouts and the starting running back.

“We did find out he’s durable,” his father said with a laugh. “That’s the good side of it.”

Oh, and there was this — Bennett had labrum surgery on his shoulder shortly after leaving UGA. He was unable to throw with his receivers at Jones until the last couple of weeks before the season started.

“I knew that coming in,” Buckley said. “The shoulder thing was just a scope deal; it wasn’t that bad. But he couldn’t really throw with our receivers until the week of the first game. I told him coming in we weren’t going to rush him on that and we didn’t. But it took a while to get the timing and rhythm down.”

All and all, it was a good experience for Bennett. After a slow start, he eventually built a rapport with his receivers and the offense. He also had 148 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns running the football, though very little of that came on designed runs. Jones County’s offense ended up being one of the best in Mississippi JUCO ranks in 2018 and Bennett finished 12th in the nation in passing. His best game came in the semifinals when he threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 65 yards in a 36-34 win.

“He has all the football skills and a high, high IQ,” Buckley said. “He probably understood more concepts than we were able to give him because he had so many freshmen around him.”

Bulldogs come calling again

Once again, Power 5 schools still weren’t beating down Bennett’s door to sign him. His best offers ended up being similar to the kinds he fielded as a senior at Pierce County High School in Blackshear. One came from Louisiana-LaFayette, an FBS school which thought Bennett could come in and win its starting job. Samford and Coastal Carolina also offered opportunities for Bennett to come in and play both football and baseball.

Georgia was keeping up, too, though. Bennett received several congratulatory messages on Jones’ playoff run. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs found out in December that Fields intended to transfer.

“When Justin left, Georgia called him back said they wanted him,” Pender said. “They said they’d put him on scholarship and he’d get a legit chance to compete in the spring. He said, ‘I’m going to get a real opportunity to do it this time.'”

Buckley actually advised Bennett against returning to Georgia.

“I didn’t think it was the right decision,” Buckley said. “I thought he’d be able to do more right away at LaFayette or UMass or Samford. But Stet loves Georgia; he wants to play at Georgia. If he’s happy, I’m happy.”

To be clear, the Bulldogs are happy, too. Flipping Mathis from his Ohio State commitment and getting him to sign with UGA was a masterful stroke by Smart and his staff. But the book on the 6-6, 205-pound, 4-star freshman is that he’s “raw” from a development standpoint. To expect him master the Georgia’s sophisticated pro-style offense — this season — to the point he could lead the team in Fromm’s absence would be unreasonable.

That’s why getting somebody like Bennett, a seasoned player who already has some familiarity the Bulldogs’ system was so important. And so we’re now learning that Bennett was always Georgia’s Plan A in the Plan B plan. It turns out that Georgia had been in talks with Bennett for quite a while.

“They were keeping up and showing us they still cared,” Bennett’s father said. “When he threw for 300 in the playoffs we heard from a lot of Georgia folks.”

Georgia didn’t announce Bennett’s signing until the end of the day in the early signing period. That gave the impression that securing Bennett’s services was an afterthought.

That wasn’t the case at all. Bennett’s father said they’d been in talks with the Bulldogs for a while. Georgia simply didn’t want other schools to know they were after Bennett, lest they also come forth with offers.

“That was by design,” Bennett III said. “There was a lot of conversation before that. But it was by design to wait so nobody else would do that. When one offers, all the sudden everybody offers. That’s how that whole game works.”

Born to be a Bulldog

Stetson Bennett’s love of UGA comes naturally. His parents, Stetson and Denise, are both graduates of the university’s pharmacy school. “Stet” is oldest of five children — four boys and a girl — and the family’s favorite pastime was following the Bulldogs. Some of Stetson’s favorite childhood memories include road trips to watch the Bulldogs play at faraway places like Arizona State, Colorado and Oklahoma State, and they always went to Georgia’s bowl games.

That’s why Bennett, who passed for 3,700 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior at Pierce County High School, chose to walk on with the Bulldogs rather than accept one of the 20 small-school offers he had. An honors student who scored a 30 on the ACT, Bennett also had the opportunity go Ivy League.

“Harvard and Yale were on the Pierce County campus for the first time ever – and on the same day,” Bennett III boasted. “That was the highlight of our principal’s tenure. They don’t usually stop in around here. But he went to Georgia to fulfill a childhood dream.”

Football runs in the Bennett family. Stetson’s grandfather, Buddy Bennett, played quarterback and defensive back at South Carolina. He also was part of a national championship at East Tennessee State and coached defensive backs at the University of Tennessee, where the Vols intercepted an SEC record 36 passes in 1970.

Buddy Bennett passed away three years ago. But he did so knowing his grandson was going to follow in his footsteps and play college football. That ‘Stet’ be doing so now at the University of Georgia would make his Granddaddy proud.

“My Daddy used to have a saying about players like ‘Stet,” Stetson III said. “He’d say, ‘he’s not big enough, he’s not fast enough, but nobody bothered to tell him.'”

This time around, the Bennetts believe they’ll see their son on the field playing for the Bulldogs and not just earning praise for his work on the practice field. Should Fromm sprain an ankle, get his bell rung or, God forbid, twist his knee, it’s likely going to be to Bennett to whom the Bulldogs turn.

“Nobody wants anybody to get hurt, but we might not know who Fromm is unless somebody got hurt,” the elder Bennett said, referring to the Jacob Eason injury that put Fromm on the field in 2017. “The Fromm family is great and we’re friends, but the University of Georgia has got to have a back-up plan. If you don’t, shame on you. Right?”

ATHENS — Amazingly, Georgia has had just two first-team All-SEC defensive players as selected by the league coaches in the last five years combined. The Bulldogs appear to have the talent and depth to replace 2018 selection, cornerback Deandre Baker. But no one on the roster has looked close to stepping into the shoes of […]

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ATHENS — Amazingly, Georgia has had just two first-team All-SEC defensive players as selected by the league coaches in the last five years combined.

The Bulldogs appear to have the talent and depth to replace 2018 selection, cornerback Deandre Baker.

But no one on the roster has looked close to stepping into the shoes of 2017 Butkus Award winner Roquan Smith.

None of last year’s Georgia linebackers, in fact, started all of the games for head coach and noted defensive guru Kirby Smart.

UGA went linebacker by committee last season, unable to find an alpha dog outside of outside linebacker D’Andre Walker, the only player of note in the group.

Outside linebackers coach Dan Lanning and Inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann received promotions to coordinator and co-defensive coordinator and $700,000 in raises, so Smart must feel they are doing great development work.

5-star help?

The Bulldogs have an impressive list of players in the linebacking corps who received a 5-star rating from at least one ratings service.

• Robert Beal 6-4, 244

• Brenton Cox 6-4, 245

• Adam Anderson 6-5, 225

• Nakobe Dean 6-0, 220

• Nolan Smith, 6-3, 227

Will a 2019 starter or perhaps even first-team All-SEC selection emerge from that group in spring drills?

Who’s No. 1?

Georgia signed the No. 1 junior college player in the nation in Jermaine Johnson, a 6-6, 250-pounder originally from Eden Prairie, Minn. who comes to Athens by way of Independence Community College in Kansas.

Johnson, who chose UGA over Oklahoma, Texas and Oregon, among others, has opened eyes in the weight room and offseason workouts.

ATHENS — If there’s one offensive principle Georgia football coach Kirby Smart will not abandon, it’s the ability to dictate the run game. Regardless of the offensive coordinator, opponent or personnel, Smart will not compromise that element of UGA football. RELATED: National title or bust, big picture questions on UGA spring football “We have our […]

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ATHENS — If there’s one offensive principle Georgia football coach Kirby Smart will not abandon, it’s the ability to dictate the run game.

Regardless of the offensive coordinator, opponent or personnel, Smart will not compromise that element of UGA football.

“We have our core belief that we always have, which is balance, being powerful, being able to run the ball at our will, not somebody else breaking our will,” Smart said last fall. “That’s always going to be the identity we have.”

A star-studded offensive line could pave the way for a run game like no other in the nation this season, depending on how the Bulldogs answer these 4 questions this spring.

Swift’s speed and cutback abilities make him a home run threat each time he touches the football. His pass-catching skills are such that 1,500 total yards and 20 touchdowns are within his reach this season.

Those could be Heisman Trophy numbers for Swift if Georgia football runs the table and wins the SEC Championship Game.

A nightmarish rushing performance in the Sugar Bowl loss to Texas — 8 carries, 12 yards, one lost fumble — likely added even more steam to Swift’s preparation for what is very likely his last season in Athens.

Leadership of Brian Herrien

Speaking of the Sugar Bowl, if every Georgia player showed up with the focus and effort Herrien displayed in New Orleans, the result of the game would have been different.

Herrien had four carries for 17 yards and two receptions for 20 yards and a TD against the Longhorns, running through and around defenders.

The 6-foot, 210-pound Herrien was Georgia’s most effective back in short-yardage situations last season, and he’ll work to earn that role as one of the senior leaders on the 2019 squad.

Surprisingly, Herrien’s longest play on 190 career touches is only 30 yards.

Herrien has come a long way since being recruited out of Douglasville as a 3-star prospect ranked 860th in his nation and 80th in Georgia, according to the 247sports composite.

Rehabilitation of Zamir White

With Swift and Elijah Holyfield both rushing for more than 1,000 yards last season, it’s hard to know just how many opportunities a healthy Zamir White would have gotten in 2018.

There’s also the question of how effective the 5-star, No. 1-ranked tailback in the 2018 class would have been as a true freshman adjusting to big-time college football.

White, who has undergone surgeries on both of his knees the past two years, is expected to be cleared for contact by the start of fall drills and in the mix for carries.

If football was played with a weight bench on the 50-yard line, White would be ready now, as his social media accounts reveal him to be a workout wonder.

But as much as White needs to be ready physically, there are also mental hurdles ahead.

White must get back to playing football with reckless abandon, not giving a second thought to sharp cutbacks on his runs, or carrying out whatever special teams assignments Smart deems appropriate.

Role of James Cook

Cook’s talent didn’t match his production in 2018, and it’s hard to know exactly where to place blame.

The explosive freshman from Miami wowed teammates in fall drills, only to fall silent on football Saturdays, former offensive coordinator Jim Chaney unable to exploit Cook’s talents.

Was it Cook’s practice habits? Was it the performances of Swift and Holyfield? Or were there simply not enough footballs to go around for Georgia last season?

Cook had 41 carries for 284 yards and 8 catches for 89 yards, but he did not touch the ball in games with LSU, Kentucky and Auburn.

Cook is coming off a foot injury suffered in the SEC Championship Game and should be 100 percent by next season, where he’s likely to play a more prominent role as a runner or receiver with Coley calling the shots.

The next potential UGA superstar in baseball has arrived on campus. Freshman pitcher Cole Wilcox turned heads over the weekend when his fastball was clocked at 100 mph in UGA’s 8-7 win over South Carolina. Hey @DSeifertD1PBR – I finally got a good #HeatSheet Alert for you: here's @BaseballUGA freshman righty Cole Wilcox blowing away […]

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The next potential UGA superstar in baseball has arrived on campus.

Freshman pitcher Cole Wilcox turned heads over the weekend when his fastball was clocked at 100 mph in UGA’s 8-7 win over South Carolina.

Wilcox is a 6-foot-5, 232-pounder from Heritage High School in Ringgold, Ga.

Why isn’t Wilcox already employed by a major-league team? Great question. The big right-hander was considered a top-20 prospect for last year’s draft out of high school. However, he reportedly turned teams off with his asking price of a $3 million signing bonus.

After going undrafted in the first two rounds, Wilcox announced via Twitter he was passing up pro ball for the time being in favor of settling some “unfinished business” with the Georgia Bulldogs.

This season, Wilcox has alternated between a starting pitcher and relief pitcher. He has a 0-0 record in six appearance, with a 7.20 ERA. He has struck out 18 batters in 15 innings.

However, the only number most observers are paying attention is … 100.

Wilcox will be draft-eligible for the 2020 MLB Draft.

UGA’s baseball team is off to a 17-2 start this season, and plays host to LSU in multiple games next weekend.

Georgia opens spring practice with extremely high expectations, but also a lot of questions. Unfortunately, G-Day probably won’t provide fans many of the answers.

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Georgia opens spring practice this week with extremely high expectations for the coming season, thanks to the large number of veterans returning, particularly on offense, and the elite level at which Kirby Smart has been recruiting the past three years.

But, there also is the usual quota of questions to be answered, thanks to quite a few changes in the coaching staff and the early departure of some key players.

However, I think fans looking forward to the April 20 G-Day game in hopes of getting those answers are bound to be somewhat disappointed.

The Dawgs divide up into the Red and Black teams for the annual spring scrimmage. (Caitlyn Tam/UGA)

While Smart has put increased emphasis on G-Day as a promotional opportunity during his time as head coach, trying to pack Sanford Stadium, the actual intrasquad scrimmage itself has become increasingly irrelevant as an indicator of what to expect during the coming season.

It’s largely a show put on for recruits, with a grandstand full of fans serving as an impressive background. Fans aren’t privy to the real spring work, done in closed practices and scrimmages.

What you see on G-Day isn’t necessarily what you’ll get, come fall.

Although the Dawgs pretty much run vanilla offensive and defensive schemes on G-Day, in order not to provide anything of use for scouts from upcoming opponents, the offense tends to throw the ball a lot more in the spring game than in real games, and fans wind up getting excited about relatively unknown players who show up big on that day, but frequently go on to have only a minimal role in the actual season.

Still, even though most of the question marks will remain hanging over the team until the August preseason camp or even later, the beginning of spring practice is a good time to take stock of the most pressing issues as Smart’s fourth team marks the unofficial beginning of the 2019 season.

Generally, the team’s in great shape, with a third-year starting quarterback in Jake Fromm; a veteran offensive line (led by returning offense tackles Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson,though the Dawgs will be settling on a new center); a talented running back corps led by the phenomenal D’Andre Swift (though not as daunting as it could have been if Elijah Holyfield hadn’t left early for the NFL); a wealth of experience at most positions on defense; and one of the nation’s best placekickers in Rodrigo Blankenship.

As I said here a couple of months ago, my two main concerns about the 2019 Dawgs are establishing an effective pass rush (which Georgia never had consistently in 2018), and the relative lack of experience in the receiving corps. To a lesser extent, quarterback depth concerns me, too.

Kirby Smart hopes to see more of an effective pass rush from the defense this season. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

He cited the youth of last year’s defense overall as a reason he chose not to run the risk of blitzing more. But, he said, “This year we don’t feel like we’re as young on defense. We feel like we’ve got some guys coming back that can contribute, some guys coming back that played and that may allow us to be more aggressive.”

There also is hope for more a more effective pass rush with the arrival of a pair of early-signing freshman defensive ends: Nolan Smith (the nation’s top recruit, according to 247Sports Composite) and Jermaine Johnson, the top-ranked junior college player.Smart has said that he sees both players primarily as pass rushers able to disrupt opposing quarterbacks.

That would be good, as a strong pass rush would help alleviate pressure on the secondary, which has lost the dominating presence of Deandre Baker, the best cornerback in college football last year.

While we’re talking about the secondary, while safety J.R. Reed is a strength there, and a team leader, the other safety, Richard LeCounte, needs to improve his tackling drastically.

Defensively, I really doubt that departed coordinator Mel Tucker being replaced by the team of Dan Lanning and Glenn Schumannwill make all that much difference, because it’s always been Smart who’s really calling the shots there.

The main area of improvement needed defensively, besides establishing a pass rush, is the effectiveness of defensive front seven against the run.

When it comes to my other main concern, the receiving corps, Georgia is losing four of its top five pass catchers from 2018. The top returnee is J.J. Holloman, and he’ll likely to be Georgia’s main big-play receiving threat. The looming question is who else will step up at the position. Will Demetris Robertson finally live up to the hype that accompanied his transfer from California last year? Most likely other contenders are Tyler Simmons, Kearis Jackson and incoming freshmen Dominick Blaylock and Makiya Tongue.

Also open to question is who will join Charlie Woerner as a regular presence at tight end, and how the lack of depth there will affect blocking schemes, especially in the running game, where the decision to go without a fullback continues to be puzzling.

As for QB, the lack of experienced depth behind Fromm means the battle for the backup spot will draw a lot of attention this spring. Actually, I doubt that spot will be settled until August, but the returning Stetson Bennett (who left the program for a year playing in junior college) looks like the favorite over incoming freshman Dwan Mathis, mainly because of his experience with the Georgia offensive playbook. Either way, if something happens to Fromm, all bets are off on Georgia’s 2019 season.

D’Andre Swift will continue to be a major offensive weapon for the Dawgs. (University of Georgia)

Another question we’ll have to wait to see answered is what sort of offensive identity Georgia will have under new coordinator James Coley, who was quarterbacks coach last year but has offensive coordinator experience at Florida State and Miami. The expectation of many program observers is that Coley will run a slightly more wide-open passing game than the primarily run-oriented philosophy Jim Chaney followed, especially with the loss of one of the Dawgs’ two 1,000-yard tailbacks, but we won’t really know that until the fall. Perhaps, Coley’s offense will be a bit more uptempo, too.

One area where improvement definitely is needed is the short-yardage game. Last season, despite being a run-first team, the Dawgs had trouble making short-yardage plays to convert third downs or score.

Fans also are anxious to see how ready the highly touted Zamir “Zeus” White will be to join the tailback rotation behind D’Andre Swift. As fan Jesse Murrah put it on my Facebook page this past week: “Am excited to finally see ‘Zeus’ destroy everything in his path.” However, the reality is, that’s likely to be another storyline that won’t get resolved until later in the year, since White is just seven months removed from surgery that forced him to miss last season.He’ll participate in drills this spring, but may not receive any contact. It’s doubtful we’ll see him play in the G-Day game.

Demetris Robertson could make his mark as a kick returner, in addition to receiving, this year. (Perry McIntyre/UGA)

Another intriguing question is who will replace Mecole Hardman in the kick return game, and there are several possibilities, including James Cook, Simmons, Robertson, Jackson and incoming freshman Blaylock. But, since I’m assuming kicks won’t be returned during the G-Day game (based on past practice), that’s another one we’ll have to wait until at least August to see resolved.

It’s notable that 14 members of Georgia’s 2019 signing class are already in school and will participate in spring drills, part of an increasing trend that Smart recently told Tony Barnhartis attributable to the fact that the mindset for players now is “‘I’ve got to get out in three years and get to the NFL.’”

For the coaching staff, that necessarily speeds up the process of working freshmen into the game plan, and leads to frustration on the part of those freshmen who don’t get as much playing time as they’d like (as in the case of Justin Fields). The transfer portal looms large these days.

We can expect to see quite a few of those fresh faces working their way into playing time, but that won’t really be evident until well into the season.

Smart, who hasn’t addressed the reporters covering UGA football since the bowl game, kicks things off with a press conference Tuesday, followed by the first of 15 practices that will include the G-Day game.

Speaking of which, while it might not be much more than a dressed-up final spring scrimmage, and an opportunity to get recruits excited, it’ll still be great to have the Dawgs teeing it up Between the Hedges for the first time in what could prove to be a momentous season in Athens.

When Georgia football beat Notre Dame 20-19 in the second week of the 2017 season, it was an early sign the Bulldogs were going to have a special year. Georgia, and Notre Dame, will be presented with the same opportunity when the Fighting Irish visit Athens early in the 2019 campaign. The two programs figure […]

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When Georgia football beat Notre Dame 20-19 in the second week of the 2017 season, it was an early sign the Bulldogs were going to have a special year. Georgia, and Notre Dame, will be presented with the same opportunity when the Fighting Irish visit Athens early in the 2019 campaign.

The two programs figure to be ranked in the top-10 when they meet on Sept. 21. They each have interesting week 1 tests, as Georgia plays at Vanderbilt and Notre Dame visits Louisville. But barring any stunning upsets, both should enter the week 4 game unbeaten.

This game also should have a plenty of bad blood with it, given what happened during Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff loss. While the Fighting Irish were losing to the eventual champion Clemson Tigers, a number of Georgia football players took to Twitter and questioned whether the Fighting Irish should have been in the playoff at all.

Of course, the Georgia players followed up the tweets by losing to Texas in the Sugar Bowl. It was a tough look for the Bulldogs, and it’s something the Notre Dame players won’t forget.

It’s also worth remembering that Georgia fans quite literally took over Notre Dame’s Stadium when they played back in 2017, leading to a public backlash against Notre Dame fans for selling their tickets to so many Georgia supporters.

When these two teams met in 2017, it was a tightly contested game. It wasn’t decided until outside linebacker Davin Bellamy strip-sacked Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush with less 90 seconds in the game. Lorenzo Carter recovered the fumble to lock up the Georgia win.

That Notre Dame game was the first career start for Jake Fromm, who filled in for an injured Jacob Eason. It was far from Fromm’s best game, as he completed 16 of 29 passes for 141 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. But Fromm has improved greatly since then, as he threw for 30 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions as a sophomore.

Georgia will also bring back running back D’Andre Swift, who had 2 carries for 42 yards in the 2017 contest. Swift rushed for 1,049 yards last year. Georgia brings back all but one starter on the offensive line, but it must replace four of its top five pass catchers from 2018.

Georgia also replaced both of its coordinators this offseason, as James Coley took over as the offensive coordinator after Jim Chaney left for the same job at Tennessee. Georgia’s defensive coordinator is now Dan Lanning, as he replaces Mel Tucker, who is now the head coach at Colorado.

Notre Dame did complete an unbeaten regular season in 2018, led largely by a stout defense. But most of the top players from the 2018 unit are gone, as defensive lineman Jerry Tillery, linebacker Drue Tranquill and cornerback Julian Love all graduated.

The Fighting Irish bring back quarterback Ian Book, who threw for 19 touchdowns to 7 interceptions last season. But Notre Dame must replace their leading rusher and pass catcher, as Dexter Williams and Miles Boykin both moved on to the NFL.

Notre Dame signed three players from the state of Georgia in their 2019 recruiting class. Its highest rated signee is 4-star safety Kyle Hamilton, who played at The Marist School in Atlanta. He was rated as the nation’s No. 60 player and someone Georgia badly wanted in its own class.

The Fighting Irish also scooped up one-time Georgia commit JD Bertrand. The 4-star linebacker de-committed from Georgia and eventually landed with the Irish. Notre Dame also signed 4-star cornerback KJ Wallace. Notre Dame’s signing class finished ranked No. 15 in the country.

Georgia signed the nation’s No. 2 signing class for the 2019 cycle. The Bulldogs do have to replace some key contributors on defense, as cornerback Deandre Baker and outside linebacker D’Andre Walker both graduated. Baker was the nation’s top defensive back as he won the Jim Thorpe Award, while Walker was the Georgia’s best pass rusher.

Both teams will never publicly admit to looking ahead to this game, but it will function as a potential spring broad to another College Football Playoff run. Georgia and Notre Dame have other big games on their 2019 schedules — Georgia plays Florida, Texas A&M and Auburn while Notre Dame has games against Michigan and Stanford— but there’s an easy case to make that this is the biggest game for both sides.

There’s also fairly realistic chance College GameDay is in Athens for this game, given the marquee matchup and the fact that this is by far the biggest non-conference game of the week. College GameDay has not been to Athens since the 2013 season, when Georgia hosted LSU. GameDay did visit Jacksonville for the Georgia-Florida game last season.

Given the potential for bad blood, the hype for the game from a national perspective and the fact that these two teams once again figure to be College Football Playoff contenders, this game will easily be one of the most important contests of the 2019 college football season.

ATHENS — Tom Crean spent the one year anniversary of his hire as Georgia’s head basketball coach in Florida on Saturday, decompressing. “I’ve just been watching some game film, saw the ending of the Kentucky-Tennessee game,” Crean told AJC-DawgNation in a phone interview Saturday afternoon. “That’s how I decompress, I watch film.” Crean also does […]

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ATHENS — Tom Crean spent the one year anniversary of his hire as Georgia’s head basketball coach in Florida on Saturday, decompressing.

“I’ve just been watching some game film, saw the ending of the Kentucky-Tennessee game,” Crean told AJC-DawgNation in a phone interview Saturday afternoon. “That’s how I decompress, I watch film.”

Crean also does some recruiting, to the extent Georgia has an unprecedented four Top 100 players in its 2019 class with the April signing day fast approaching.

To put that in perspective, Duke has three ESPN Top 100 players, and Kentucky has two.

Crean is still studying the 2018-19 season, however, unlike other coaches who might not want to watch another second of tournament basketball after their teams have been eliminated.

Crean says every SEC tourney game is an opportunity for him to learn the league better, something he believes he must do en route to taking Georgia basketball to the top.

“I have a much better handle on where we’re at, what we need to do,” Crean said. “You have to learn the landscape of your university and surroundings, but you also have to learn the landscape of the league.”

Building a No. 1-ranked team at Indiana in the Big Ten was one thing, but Crean says the SEC presents its own challenges.

“You have to keep making sure you are getting skill players in recruiting, as in any league, but the level of athleticism and guys that can get their own shots in the SEC is so impressive,” Crean said, “and I’ve never been a league that rebounds like this from top to bottom.”

Georgia could return the SEC’s No. 2 rebounder from this season if 6-foot-11 sophomore Nicolas Claxton decides to return for his junior year.

Anthony “Ant Man” Edwards is a 6-4 shooting guard ranked No. 5 in the nation by ESPN who has committed and is expected to sign in April, along with Brown, the No. 60 player in the country.

Georgia already has two ESPN Top 100 signees in 6-6 forward Jaykwon Walton out of Montgomery, Ala., (No. 67) and 6-6 forward Toumani Camara (No. 96) out of Hollywood, Fla.

“The biggest message to the staff was we are not going to rush anything in recruiting,” Crean said, asked about the philosophy he has applied to this recruiting class. “We have to get people who will impact the program and establish it with the guys who are here.

“We’re gonna really kick the training up this offseason after this mandatory seven-day break. This is not going to be business as usual.”

Crean said he is driven every day he arrives on campus and looks at the athletic programs around him.

“I was extremely excited when we got the opportunity to come to Georgia without really knowing a lot about the landscape or what it would take to build it,” Crean said. “I’ve learned a ton, and the passion and excitement the fanbase had with the record attendance means a lot to me.

“Every day, I’ve thought more and more it’s all here for us, and we have to take advantage of everything we have here at Georgia, just like the other spots, and just like that football program across the street.”

Kevin Kisner, the PGA golfer who graduated from UGA, threw some shade at the Florida Gators. Kisner is one of the leaders at The Player’s Championship, which is being played this weekend in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The PGA Tour’s official twitter account posted a video of a couple of young fans giving Kisner a […]

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Kevin Kisner, the PGA golfer who graduated from UGA, threw some shade at the Florida Gators.

Kisner is one of the leaders at The Player’s Championship, which is being played this weekend in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

The PGA Tour’s official twitter account posted a video of a couple of young fans giving Kisner a fist bump, along with saying “Go Dawgs.” Kisner instantly replied with “Go Dawgs.”

Even though Kisner is heavily focused on trying to win the tournament, he always seems to have time to give a shout out to his alma mater.

Things got even more fun later in the day when the same Twitter account posted this quote/jab by Kisner: “There’s more ‘Go Dawgs’ than Gator fans out here. Gator fans need to show up in their home state.”

Somewhere, DawgNation’s Brandon Adams is smiling.

Back to Kisner: He was a member of UGA’s 2005 national championship team, and joined the PGA tour in 2006 after he graduated from college. In the professional ranks, the 35-year old has two PGA wins and racked up more than $16 million in career earnings.

He remains a diehard fan of UGA, especially football. You might remember that Kisner famously tweeted that he needed helicopter ride after his Saturday round at a PGA tournament in the Atlanta area … to the Bulldogs’ game at Mississippi State later that night in Sept. 2017. A fellow golfer helped out Kisner on that wish.